Visitation

Contact vs. Non‑Contact and Video 'Special' Visits at Louisiana State Penitentiary

Planning a visit at Louisiana State Penitentiary? The biggest source of confusion is usually the type of visit you'll be allowed. Here's how Louisiana DOC defines contact, non-contact, and video visits—and what that means for your visit day.

1 min read doc.louisiana.gov
Contact vs. Non‑Contact and Video 'Special' Visits at Louisiana State Penitentiary

Louisiana DOC policy starts with a simple premise: each institution can allow visitation, but facilities run visits differently based on their physical layout and security requirements. That's why two visits under the same statewide rules can look completely different. The available space, how the visiting area is designed, and the level of supervision needed all determine whether a visit can be contact, must be non-contact, or gets handled some other way.

Under Louisiana DOC definitions, a

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Contact vs. Non‑Contact and Video 'Special' Visits at Louisiana State Penitentiary

Louisiana DOC defines video visitation as visiting through electronic media. Here's what surprises many families: video visits are officially classified as a

  • Ask whether your visit will be contact or non-contact so you’re not surprised by screens or glass on arrival.
  • If you’re trying to do a video visit, confirm what the facility requires for “special visits,” since video visitation is classified that way under Louisiana DOC rules.
  • Before you finalize plans, verify any visit-type limits and the procedures you’ll need to follow for the kind of visit you’re requesting.

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