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Visitation

What to Expect During Check-In at Louisiana Prisons: Searches, Registration, and ID Requirements

Your visit starts before you reach the visiting room. Knowing how check-in works, what ID you need, and what searches to expect can save you from getting turned away at the door.

• 2 min read Verified from official sources

Before entering the visiting area at a Louisiana DPS&C facility, you need to register with staff. This means checking in at the front desk or visiting desk, confirming who you're there to see, and following staff instructions before you can proceed.

  • ✓ Valid driver’s license from your state of residence
  • ✓ Valid state photo identification card from your state of residence
  • ✓ Valid military photo identification card (active duty only)
  • ✓ Valid passport

Expect to be searched during check-in. Louisiana DPS&C rules allow staff to search all visitors, including minors. Searches can cover your property, your car, and your person. Bringing children? The same screening rules apply to them.

  • ✓ Inspection of personal property you bring onto the grounds (for example, items you’re carrying)
  • ✓ Vehicle search or inspection in the parking area
  • ✓ Person screening at entry (for example, metal-detector screening or a pat-down, if required)

Visitors under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian the entire time they're on facility grounds. Plan your trip so an approved adult stays with them from arrival to departure, including any waiting periods at check-in.

Reminder: Parents and legal guardians are responsible for their children’s behavior. If children become disruptive, the facility can terminate the visit.

Need ADA accommodations? Contact the facility in advance. Reaching out ahead of time gives staff a chance to plan for your access needs during check-in and the visit.

  1. Stay calm and ask the reason - politely ask what rule prevented entry (ID issue, registration issue, search refusal, or something else).
  2. Write down the details - note the date/time and what you were told, so you can fix the right problem before you return.
  3. Fix what you can immediately - if it’s something simple (like needing a different form of ID), handle it and ask whether you can re-start check-in that day.
  4. Ask about next steps - if you can’t be admitted that day, ask how to reschedule and what you should bring or do differently next time.
  5. Follow up with the facility later if needed - if the explanation wasn’t clear, contact the facility administration for clarification before making another trip.

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