Visiting Someone During Their First 30 Days at Madison Parish Detention Center: What Intake Status Means

Under Louisiana DOC rules,

If intake runs longer than 30 days, your loved one can request a special visit with immediate family members through the Reception Center's visiting procedures. You can't request this yourself - the person in custody has to ask. There's also a middle period worth knowing about. Once someone is off intake status, the receiving facility's Warden (or designee) can authorize immediate-family visits at the offender's request, even if the regular visitation application isn't fully processed yet. This bridges the gap between the intake blackout and regular approved visits.

For these special immediate-family visits,

While waiting on visitation approval, here's the key thing: the offender gets notified of the decision - not you. Once an application is approved or denied, the person in custody is responsible for telling you the outcome. For regular visits, your approved application must be on file before you show up. Even if you're ready to go, you can be turned away if the approval isn't recorded yet. Getting mixed messages? Ask your loved one to confirm exactly what they were told and whether the approval is officially in the system.

S5

• ✓ Ask your loved one whether they are still in intake status, and if intake has exceeded 30 days, have them request a special visit under the Reception Center’s visiting procedures.
• ✓ If you’re immediate family, get ready to show the relationship category you fall under (parent, sibling, spouse, child, grandparent/grandchild, aunt/uncle, or legal guardian - including step/half/adoptive relationships).
• ✓ If they’ve been removed from intake status but the regular visitation application isn’t complete, ask your loved one whether they can request an immediate-family visit that may be authorized by the Warden or designee.
• ✓ Don’t travel for a regular visit until your loved one tells you your application was approved and the approved application is on file.

Most of the frustration in the first month comes down to timing - not anything you did wrong. The visitation rules are designed to maintain family connections while keeping operations safe and orderly. During intake, the facility is still assessing and classifying the person in custody. If a visit gets delayed or denied during this period, it usually reflects that balance, not a judgment about your relationship.

If a visit is allowed and you need to bring medication, the rules are strict. Only prescribed medication that's life-saving or life-sustaining is permitted, and only the amount needed for the visit. Let staff at the visiting desk know you have medication before entering.