Are Louisiana Inmate Records Public Information?
Yes, Louisiana inmate records are public information. They are mostly made available for easy access by traditional governmental agencies and third-party websites and organizations.
The following information is contained in Louisiana inmate records:
- Full name of the offender
- Their Date of birth
- Physical description
- Louisiana Inmate mugshot
- Inmate's offense
- Date of incarceration
- Expected date of release
Louisiana Inmate Search
Louisiana inmate records consist of an offender who’s in custody, parish jails, correctional facilities, and other penal institutions. They may include sentencing information, such as the type and class of offense, the parish where the case was tried, and the location of the facility holding the inmate. Records may also contain the inmate’s name, registration number, date of birth, sex, and Louisiana inmate mugshots. Most of these records are open to the public in compliance with the state’s public record laws.
Inmate records are considered public in the United States and, therefore, are made available by both traditional governmental agencies as well as third-party websites and organizations. Third-party websites may offer an easier means to search, as these services do not face geographical limitations. However, because third-party sites are not government-sponsored, the information obtained through them may vary from official channels. To find inmate records using third-party aggregate sites, requesting parties must provide:
- The location of the sought-after record, including state, county, and city where the inmate resides.
- The name of the person listed in the record, unless it is a juvenile.
How to Find Someone in Jail in Louisiana
In Louisiana, here’s how to find out what jail someone is in. Louisiana Automated Victim Notification System (LAVNS) has a database of all inmates in jail. Enter the inmate’s full name and their place of incarceration, and the results will appear instantly. Alternatively, to find out why someone is in jail, callers can place a call to the designated imprisoned person’s locator if they have the inmate's DPS/C number to find out the inmate’s custody status.
How to Perform a Louisiana Jail Inmate Search
Most of Louisiana’s parishes provide online platforms that the public can use to find a person in jail. For instance, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office maintains a parish prison inmate list, while the Jefferson Parish Sheriff provides an online inmate search platform that allows for searches by name, race, or sex. In addition, the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office provides a similar service to its inmate master search.
At the same time, St. Tammany Parish maintains an online inmate roster that reveals current inmates and inmates released within 48 hours. Finally, if unsure how to find out if a person is in Jail in Louisiana, interested persons may call the state’s Imprisoned Person Locator System.
What is the Difference Between Jails and Prisons in Louisiana?
Jails are correctional/detention facilities managed by the parish or city government, while prisons are secure facilities managed by the state. Correctional facilities in Louisiana house offenders who have been convicted of an offense and are serving a sentence.
How to Send Money to an Inmate in Louisiana Prisons or Jails
Friends and family members can send funds to inmates using several options:
- Internet: JPay processes all online payments to inmates. Interested parties can make payments by signing on to the payment service and sending funds using credit or debit cards. Payments typically take 48 hours before they are reflected in an offender’s account.
- Mail: Members of the public can deposit money in an inmate’s account by sending a money order via mail. Deposits should be accompanied by a completed money deposit slip that includes the money order amount, inmate ID, and inmate’s full name.
- MoneyGram: Money can be sent to any MoneyGram walk-up location.
- Kiosks: Friends and family can deposit funds at any of the kiosks located in the visiting area of a correctional facility. Funds may be provided by cash or credit/debit card.
- Phone: Funds may be transferred by calling (800) 574-5729 and using a credit/debit card. The maximum amount allowed for this medium is $300.
How to Get Approved to Visit an Inmate in Louisiana Prisons and Jails
Visitors need to review the visiting time for each facility and the department regulations on visitations. All approved visitors must register with officials before entering the visiting area. Visitors must provide a valid photo I.D. such as a driver’s license, state photo identification card, passport, or military photo identification card. Children who accompany their parents during a visit must not be left alone. In addition, the department has a strict dress code that all visitors must maintain. Visitors cannot wear any sheer or transparent clothing or any clothing that exposes an undue amount of flesh. Clothing with gang insignia, apparel with revealing holes, or clothing identical to the uniform or clothing worn by correctional officers is not permitted.
How to Find a County Inmate Roster in Louisiana
Louisiana County has an inmate roster managed by the sheriff alone. The roosters contain private information and details about inmates who have been incarcerated. It is a public record with information about inmates who are serving jail time at the moment and the ones convicted of a life sentence. The roasters are constantly updated and available for public access. For Louisiana, county inmate roosters can be easily accessed on the Louisiana official sheriff's website for each county or by checking the Louisiana Department of Justice.
Louisiana State Prisons and County Jails: Understanding the Difference
Louisiana state prisons and county jails are operated by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. As of 2018, there were a total of 9 prisons and approximately 32,000 inmates in Louisiana.
State prisons in Louisiana are located in Baton Rouge, Beaumont, Winnfield, and Shreveport. County jails are located in each of the 64 parishes (counties) in Louisiana.
Inmates in Louisiana state prisons are housed in one of three custody levels: maximum security, medium security, or minimum security. Inmates in maximum security prisons are considered the most dangerous and are kept in cells with limited contact with other inmates and prison staff. Inmates in medium-security prisons have more contact with other inmates and prison staff and are considered less dangerous than those in maximum security. Inmates in minimum security prisons are considered the least dangerous and have the most contact with other inmates and prison staff.
Most inmates in Louisiana state prisons are serving time for non-violent offenses, such as drug crimes, burglary, and theft. However, there are also a significant number of inmates incarcerated for violent crimes, such as murder, rape, and robbery.
As of 2018, the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections employs about 5,000 people. This includes corrections officers who work in state prisons and county jails. The department also employs probation and parole officers who supervise offenders who are on probation or parole.
How to Perform a Louisiana Prison Inmate Search
The public can perform a Louisiana prison inmate search by signing up with the Louisiana Automated Victim Notification System (LAVNS). It provides regular updates on an inmate’s movement through the justice system. In addition, subscribers can use the system to stay updated on an offender’s current custody status and also case status. It provides information by text message, email, or phone calls when available.
Interested parties can also perform an inmate lookup in Louisiana by contacting the Louisiana DPS&C. The agency maintains a 24-hour offender locator system that the public can access by calling (225) 383-4580. The system is updated daily and includes records of DPS&C offenders as well as offenders under probation.
How Do I Find Out an Inmate Release Date?
In Louisiana, the inmate locator is used to find out an inmate’s release date, where they are, and the exact time they’ll be released, except they’re subject to a life sentence. Often, the release dates are made private for security reasons. Hence, the only people who have access to the inmate’s release date include immediate family members, crime victims of the inmate, their attorney, and law enforcement agencies.
Can Anyone Visit an Inmate in Louisiana Prisons?
Visits aren’t allowed for everyone. Visitors who wish to see an inmate housed in a Louisiana correctional facility must be on the inmate’s approved visiting list. Visits are allowed for children and minors as long as they are accompanied by a legal guardian or parent for the entire duration of their time on the facility’s grounds. However, offenders who have been convicted of a sex crime involving a minor cannot receive visits from any minors, including their own adopted or biological children.
How Do I Contact an Inmate in Louisiana Prisons?
Friends and family are allowed to send letters to offenders housed in Louisiana correctional facilities. Letters must include the offender’s DPS&C number as well as the offender’s full name. Respondents cannot send stamps or cash through the mail.
Facilities Operated by the Louisiana Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Headquartered in Baton Rouge, the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections (DPS&C) oversees the running of 13 correctional inmate facilities in the state. The DPS&C is divided into three major divisions: Public Safety Services, Office of Juvenile Justice, and Corrections Services. The DPS&C is tasked with the oversight of more than 35,000 inmates. Nearly half of these inmates are housed in state correctional facilities, while others go to private and parish facilities.
Allen Correctional Center
3751 Lauderdale Woodyard Rd.
LA 70648
(337) 639-2943
B.B. Rayburn Correctional Center
27268 Hwy. 21 North,
Angie, LA 70426
Phone: (985) 661-6300
David Wade Correctional Center
670 Bell Hill Road,
Homer, LA 71040
Phone: (318) 927-0400
Dixon Correctional Institute
5568 LA-68,
Post Office Box 788,
Jackson, LA 70748
Phone: (225) 634-1200
Elayn Hunt Correctional Center
6925 Highway 74, St.
Gabriel, LA 70776,
Phone: (225) 642-3306
Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women
7205 Highway 74, St.
Gabriel, LA 70776
Phone: (225) 319-2701
Louisiana State Penitentiary
17544 Tunica Trace,
Angola, LA 70712
Phone: (225) 655-4411
Raymond Laborde Correctional Center
1630 Prison Rd,
Cottonport, LA 71327
Phone: (318) 876-2891
Winn Correctional Center
180 CCA Blvd.,
Atlanta, LA 71483
Phone: (318) 628-3971
