Penmate Inmate Support Guides
Visitation

Can You Visit During Intake? What Happens If Processing Takes Longer Than 30 Days

If your loved one is still in intake status at Elayn Hunt Correctional Center, you won't be able to visit yet. But there's one exception—if intake processing stretches past 30 days.

• 2 min read • doc.louisiana.gov
Can You Visit During Intake? What Happens If Processing Takes Longer Than 30 Days

Louisiana DOC policy doesn't allow visitation for offenders in intake status. Intake is the processing period right after someone arrives - the facility is completing assessments and classification to determine housing and what rules apply. Until they're officially off intake status, visits will be denied, even for immediate family.

Note: Policies and schedules can change. The DOC directs families to check the DOC website for the most up-to-date information on prison operations and rules.

Here's the workaround: if intake processing takes longer than 30 days, the offender can request a special visit with immediate family. This isn't a regular visiting slot you can book yourself - it's a special-visit request that goes through the Reception Center's visiting procedures. If your loved one tells you they're still in intake weeks after arriving, the 30-day mark is when you should ask about this option.

Tip: Special visits are handled under the reception center’s local procedures. If you’re not sure what to do next, confirm the current process through official DOC information before you make the trip.

Can You Visit During Intake? What Happens If Processing Takes Longer Than 30 Days

Family Followup

  • ✓ Call the Elayn Hunt Correctional Center Visitation Department at (225) 319-4559
  • ✓ Or call (225) 319-4364
  • ✓ Hours listed: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday–Friday
  1. Call the Visitation Department during business hours - Use the Monday–Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. window to reach staff.
  2. Ask whether your loved one is still in intake status - That status is the deciding factor for whether regular visitation is allowed.
  3. If intake has exceeded 30 days, ask how to request a special visit - The offender can request a special visit with immediate family, and staff can tell you the reception center’s procedure to follow.

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