Inmates & Families

Visitation with people committed to the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections (DPS&C) is a privilege. Visitation may be restricted, denied or suspended if an imprisoned person and/or visitor does not follow the Department’s visitation rules. Prospective visitors may refer to Department Regulation OP-C-9  for specific rules governing visitation. The regulation may also be obtained by requesting a copy from the facility. Items considered to be contraband, including any type of weapon, firearm or any other item detrimental to the security of the facility, are not allowed. Prohibited items and other personal possessions (wallet, purse, cash, etc.) must be left in the visitor’s locked vehicle for the duration of the visit. The following are rules that a visitor must follow in order to be allowed to visit with a person in prison.

1. Visiting List: In order to visit a person in prison, the visitor must be on the person’s approved visiting list. The imprisoned person has been given information on how to add someone to their visiting list. If you are uncertain as to whether you are on a person in prison’s approved visiting list, please contact the person you wish to visit. Do not call the facility for this information; it will not be provided over the phone.
2. Searches:All visitors, including minors, are subject to searches of their property, automobile and person. These searches shall be conducted by trained staff in a professional manner that minimizes indignity to the visitor while still accomplishing the objective of the search. Additionally, visitors shall be subject to additional searches using metal detectors and ion scanning equipment. Specially trained search dogs (K-9s) may be used as a part of the search process both prior to a visitor entering the visiting area and in the actual visiting room during visits. Any person refusing to be searched at any time shall not be permitted to enter the facility and a visit may be terminated if a visitor refuses to be searched, or if contraband or other prohibited property or items are found on the visitor or in the visitor’s property. If a visitor does not wish to be searched either by hand or by using other means, the visitor should not attempt to enter a DPS&C facility.
3. Registration: Visitors must register with staff prior to entering the visiting area.
4. Identification:All visitors who are 18 years old or older shall be required to show a picture identification each time they visit. The forms of identification accepted by the DPS&C are:

• Valid driver’s license from the state of residence
• Valid state photo identification card from the state of residence
• Valid military photo identification card (active duty only)
• Valid passport

5. Children: Visitors under the age of 18 years of age must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian at all times while on facility grounds. Children shall not be left alone at any time while on facility grounds. Parents or legal guardians shall be responsible for the behavior of their children and a visit may be terminated if the children become disruptive.
6. Dress standards:Visitors shall wear clothing that poses no threat to the security or maintenance of order at the facility. The following standards are to be met:

• Clothing that is similar in appearance to the clothing worn by imprisoned people is prohibited.
• Clothing that is similar in appearance to the clothing worn by correctional officers, i.e. camouflage, blue BDU’s, etc. is prohibited.
• Sheer or transparent clothing is not permitted.
• Swim suits are not permitted.
• Skirts, shorts, skorts, culottes, and dresses must be no shorter than three inches above the kneecap and not have deep or revealing slits.
• Strapless, tube and halter tops, tank tops, and strapless dresses are not permitted.
• Tops that expose the midriff are not permitted.
• Tight fitting pants, such as stirrup, spandex, lycra, or spandex-like athletic pants, aerobic/exercise tights or leotards shall not be worn.
• Undergarments must be worn at all times and cannot be exposed.
• Clothing with revealing holes or tears higher than one inch above the kneecap is not permitted.
• Clothing or accessories with obscene or profane writing, images, or pictures is not permitted.
• Gang or club-related clothing or insignia indicative of gang affiliation is not permitted.
• Shoes must be worn at all times, except for infants who are carried. House slippers or shower shoes are not allowed.
• Hats or other head coverings are not permitted, except as required by religious beliefs.

7. Items not permitted:Visitors shall not be permitted to possess or carry the following items into the visiting area: controlled substances, alcoholic beverages, marijuana, tobacco and tobacco related items, cameras, video, and audio recording equipment and electronic devices, including but not limited to cellular telephones, pagers, BlackBerries, radios, tape recorders, etc.
8. Medication:Only prescribed medication that is life-saving or life-sustaining, such as nitroglycerine pills, inhalers, oxygen, etc., shall be permitted. Medication shall be limited in quantity to no more than that required for the duration of the visit. Visitors must advise the staff at the visiting desk that they are in possession of such medication.
9. Infants: If the visitor has an infant child, the following items shall be permitted: four diapers, two jars of vacuum sealed baby food, two plastic bottles of milk or juice, one change of clothing, one baby blanket (maximum width and length not to exceed 48 inches), and one clear plastic bag of baby wipes. These items, except the baby blanket, must be stored in a single clear plastic container (i.e., gallon size zip-lock bag.) All items are subject to search.
10. Money:Visitors shall not give any money to an imprisoned person. All state correctional facilities utilize JPAY for money deposits to people in prison. JPAY allows family members and friends to make a deposit to an person in prison’s account in a number of ways via U.S. mail, internet, telephone, kiosks at the correctional facility, and Moneygram locations.
11. Contact between people in prison and visitors: People in prison who have contact visits may embrace (hug) and exchange a brief kiss, to indicate fondness, not a lingering kiss, with their visitor at beginning and end of the visit. During the visit, the only contact permitted is holding hands. Excessive displays of affection or sexual misconduct between people in prison and visitors is strictly prohibited. Small children may be permitted to sit on the lap of the visitor or person in prison. Any improper contact between a person in prison and visitor shall be grounds for stopping the visit immediately. Some people in prison are restricted to non-contact visits. In these cases, there shall be no physical contact or touching at all between the person in prison and the visitors. Restroom breaks may be authorized, however, visitors will be subject to the entire search process again.
12. Restrictions on visits with minors: People in prison who have a current or prior conviction for a sex crime involving a minor child family member, or who have a documented history of sex abuse with a minor child family member, are ineligible to visit with any minor child, including their own biological or step-child. People in prison who have a current or prior conviction for a sex crime involving a minor child who is not a family member are ineligible to visit with any minor child. The imprisoned people affected by these restrictions have been informed of possible exceptions that may only be approved by the warden.
13. Generally prohibited: The giving or receiving of any item(s) to/from a person in prison without the prior approval of staff is prohibited. Violators are subject to arrest and criminal prosecution and suspension of visiting privileges. The only exception is that the visitor may purchase soft drinks, snacks or concessions in the visiting area and share them with the person in prison. The person in prison is not permitted to take anything out of the visiting area when the visit is finished, other than with approval as noted above.
14. Visiting hours: See Hours of Operation section for each individual facility on our locations page. 
15. Public transportation:Some DPS&C facilities have public transportation available to the facility. Information is provided at the facility to the people in prison if public transportation is available. There may be a cost for use of this transportation and the DPS&C does not endorse or claim any liability for the use of the transportation provider. The visitor may contact the person they wish to visit in prison to obtain specific information regarding any types of transportation that may be available to the facility where the person is housed.
16. Directions:Driving directions may befound on the facility page the visitor wishes to visit.
17. Termination of visits: The warden of the facility or staff designated by the warden may terminate a visit at any time if they believe that ending the visit is in the best interest of the safety and security of the facility or the persons involved.
18. Other specific information provided by the person in prison or facility: Contact the imprisoned person you are visiting or the facility for other permissible items, special visit procedures, and availability of picnic visits.
19. Request for ADA accommodations: For ADA accommodations, please contact the facility in advance of your visit.

The Department encourages positive communication between people in prison and family members/friends. As such, DPS&C offers several avenues of communication for people assigned to state correctional facilities. People in prison may communicate via regular U.S. mail, secure telephones, and secure electronic communication (similar to email provided by JPAY). Family members may also send money to people in DPS&C custody.

Telephone Communication
Dept. Regulation No. B-08-001 allows for each imprisoned person to have an approved master list of up to twenty (20) telephone numbers for family, friends, and legal calls. An imprisoned person can update the list on a quarterly basis.

If a person in prison attempts to dial any telephone number not on his/her approved list from a state correctional facility, the call is automatically blocked. Individual telephone numbers can be blocked as well. Members of the public can contact the facility directly or the Office of Adult Services (225-342-9711) if they are receiving unwanted or harassing phone calls from imprisoned people at state correctional facilities.

People in prison can only make collect calls and prison telephones are limited to out-going calls only. Calls are usually limited to 15 minutes. No one can make a call to a prison telephone.

When a person in prison makes a call, the called party is notified that it is a collect call from a person at a state prison facility. The called party is given the option of accepting the call or refusing it by hanging up.

Telephone communication access is provided by an outside vendor, Securus Technologies. Securus’ Customer Service number is 1-800-844-6591 for individuals needing assistance with billing issues, problems receiving calls from people in prison, receiving unwanted calls and/or requesting a block on future calls from an individual(s) in prison.

The Department allows people in prison to call approved cell phone numbers under specific guidelines. The called party must set up an account with Securus and provide their primary residence information. Calls to prepaid cell phones are not allowed. The imprisoned individual must have your cell phone number on his/her approved phone list.

Electronic Communication
The Department offers electronic communication for staying in touch as well. JPay provides an email service that is usually faster than regular mail and appropriate photographs can be attached to the emails. This service is all done through a secure connection, so people in prison never actually have access to the internet.

Visit JPay for more information.

Please note that all media inquiries regarding people currently or formerly under DPS&C custody (including interview requests) should be directed to the Communications Team at doccommunications@la.gov. Media may not circumvent Department policies regarding contact with people in prison. Media may not be placed on imprisoned persons’ telephone lists, communicate with people in prison via electronic communication, or send money to people in prison. Failure by a news media representative or an individual who represents an independent or commercial production company to comply with Departmental policy constitutes grounds for denying the representative and/or the representative’s agency access to facilities and interviews for a 12-month period.