Bringing a phone to David Wade: why telecommunications devices are contraband and how searches work
Visiting David Wade? Leave your phone behind. That includes chargers, SIM cards, and anything else that connects to it. Visitor screening is thorough, and the safest approach is to secure your electronics before you even arrive.
Department policy classifies telecommunications equipment as contraband, and the definition goes beyond just cellphones. It covers cellular phones, pagers, and the parts that make them work: SIM cards, portable memory chips, batteries, and chargers. Cameras and recording devices fall under the same rules. If it can capture photos, video, or audio, treat it like a phone and leave it behind.
Expect to be screened every time you visit. Everyone goes through it, including minors. Searches can cover your body, your belongings, and even your vehicle. Staff run these checks to maintain safety and security, so arrive ready for questions and inspection of anything you brought with you.
- ✓ Metal detector screening
- ✓ Ion scanning equipment
- ✓ Specially trained K-9 teams (used prior to entry and may also be used in the visiting area during visits)
If staff find a phone, charger, SIM card, or any other covered device or component, they treat it as contraband under Department rules. Intent does not matter here. Even if you brought it by accident, it is still prohibited, and staff will respond according to facility policy for contraband items.
Bringing prohibited items can cost you your visiting privileges. Visitation is conditional, and rule violations can lead to restrictions or suspension. If you want to protect your time with your loved one, avoiding contraband is one of the simplest things you can do. It keeps your visit from being cut short and your future visits from being limited.
Before Leave Home
- ✓ Leave your phone somewhere you will not forget it. The contraband definition includes cellular phones and pagers, not just “active” phones.
- ✓ Do a quick “parts check” before you go. SIM cards, portable memory chips, batteries, and chargers are also listed as telecommunications contraband.
- ✓ Keep cameras and recording devices out of your pockets and bags. They are treated as contraband the same way a phone is.
- ✓ Empty every pocket you plan to walk in with. Visitor screening can include metal detectors, ion scanning, and K-9 teams, so even small items can create a problem.
- ✓ Bring only what you truly need for the visit. Fewer items means fewer chances to accidentally carry in something prohibited.
- Speak up immediately - if you realize you have a phone (or a charger, SIM card, battery, or memory chip), tell staff right away.
- Follow staff instructions - do not argue or try to handle it on your own. Staff will direct you based on facility policy.
- Do not try to enter anyway - screening can include metal detectors, ion scanning, and K-9 teams, and attempting to proceed with a prohibited item can risk your visit and future visiting privileges.
One more thing that catches people off guard: you need to be approved before you can visit. Prospective visitors must complete an Application for Visiting Privileges (Form C-02-008-A), and it is the offender's responsibility to send the application to family members and friends they want on their visiting list. If you are not sure whether you have been approved, handle that paperwork first. Otherwise, you risk making the trip only to be turned away.
Find an Inmate at Bossier Parish Jail, LA
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
