Former Allendale Correctional Nurse Charged With Unlawfully Taking Inmates' Prescription Drugs

The safety and medical care of people incarcerated at Allendale Correctional Institution in Fairfax has come under scrutiny after an internal investigation led to criminal charges against a former health care worker.

Officials with the South Carolina Department of Corrections’ Office of Inspector General arrested and charged Allison D. Atkinson, 53, a licensed practical nurse who had worked at Allendale Correctional Institution, with nine counts of unlawful possession of prescription drugs. “Allison D. Atkinson, 53, is charged with nine counts of unlawful possession of prescription drugs,” officials said. The facility is located at 1057 Revolutionary Trail in Fairfax.

Warrants and agency statements say evidence recovered from Atkinson’s home after her separation from employment included prescription medications. “Medications, including 14 Loperamide pills, were recovered from Atkinson’s home after her separation from employment.” Warrants cite witness statements and the recovered items as the basis for probable cause. “Probable cause for the charges is based on witness statements and evidence recovered from Atkinson’s residence, according to the warrants.” According to investigators, “Atkinson’s access to the drugs was only through her position as a nurse at the prison, and no lawful reason was found for her removal or retention of the medications.”

The allegations underscore long-running concerns about medication diversion in correctional settings, where controlled and prescription drugs are managed in limited supply and are critical to ongoing care. For inmates with chronic conditions, interrupted or stolen prescriptions can cause pain, withdrawal, or dangerous health setbacks. For the community in Allendale County and Fairfax, the case raises questions about oversight, recordkeeping, and accountability at a facility that provides both custodial and medical services.

This is not the first misconduct case tied to Allendale staff in recent years. Public records show a 2018 arrest of a correctional officer, Joshua Cave, accused of accepting more than $1,200 in bribes from an inmate identified as Levi Bing Jr. Separately, a 2022 federal complaint (case 9:22-cv-04247-JDA-MHC) alleges that a detainee, Ms. Cano, was denied medically necessary care while housed partly at Allendale and names multiple current and former SCDC officials in allegations about policy and medical oversight.

For residents and advocates concerned about public safety and inmate health, the Atkinson case spotlights systemic issues: inventory controls for medications, staff hiring and discipline practices, and the capacity of internal oversight to detect and deter diversion. Local officials and the SCDC’s Office of Inspector General will be key sources for next steps as criminal proceedings move forward and as the agency assesses whether broader audits or policy changes are needed.

Readers can expect updates as warrants, booking details, and court filings become available and as the Department of Corrections releases additional information about how the medications were tracked and how many inmates may have been affected.