Why Your Loved One Can't Have Visits During Their First 30 Days (Intake Period) — DWCC

Under Louisiana DOC visitation rules, people who are in intake status are not allowed to have visits during the intake period. That can feel abrupt - especially when you’re trying to confirm they’re okay - but it’s a blanket restriction tied to their status, not something you did wrong or a sign that you’re “not on the list.”

“Intake status” has a specific meaning: it’s the 30-day period after someone is placed into the custody of the Department. So when staff tell you visits can’t happen yet, they’re often referring to that first 30-day window. Once they’re no longer considered in intake status, visiting is handled under the receiving facility’s process.

If the intake process goes past 30 days, your loved one may request a special visit with immediate family members. This is handled according to the Reception Center’s visiting procedures, so the exact process can depend on where they are completing intake. The key detail is that the request is tied to intake running longer than the standard 30-day period.

To figure out where your loved one is housed - and whether you’re still within that initial intake window - you can use the Louisiana Automated Victim Notification System (LAVNS). It’s a searchable system that’s updated every 24 hours, which makes it useful when someone has recently moved or you’re getting mixed messages about their location.

1. Call the Imprisoned Person Locator at 225-383-4580 - this connects you to the Louisiana DOC locator line.
2. Have the right identifying information ready - you’ll need either their DPS&C number, or their name and date of birth.
3. Ask for their housing assignment and facility address - those are the details the locator can provide when you have the required information.

David Wade Correctional Center (DWCC) is located at 670 Bell Hill Road, Homer, LA 71040. If you’re trying to confirm whether DWCC is the correct destination for travel or mail planning, match what you’re told to that address.

• ✓ Check LAVNS (updated every 24 hours) to confirm where they’re currently housed.
• ✓ If you need confirmation fast, call the Imprisoned Person Locator at 225-383-4580 with their DPS&C number (or their name and date of birth).
• ✓ Once you confirm their location, ask whether they are still in intake status (the first 30 days after placement into Department custody).
• ✓ If intake is running longer than 30 days, have your loved one ask about requesting a special visit with immediate family under the Reception Center’s visiting procedures.