How to find someone assigned to custody (Napoleonville area) — LAVNS & DOC Offender Locator
Trying to find where someone is being held in the Napoleonville area? Start with LAVNS (VINELink), then try the Louisiana DOC Offender Locator if you think they're in state custody.
Two tools will get you the fastest answer. First, try LAVNS (Louisiana Automated Victim Notification System) through VINELink online or by phone - it helps locate state offenders. If you believe the person is already in Louisiana Department of Corrections custody, the DOC Offender Locator is more direct. But here's the catch: it only shows DOC offenders. People who are pre-trial or serving parish or municipal sentences won't appear. One more thing to know: the DOC locator also includes people on probation or parole, so a match doesn't necessarily mean someone is behind bars right now.
LAVNS runs 24/7 through VINELink online, and there's a toll-free phone line at 866-528-6748. If you don't have much information - or you're unsure whether someone has been moved - start here. You can search by name and filter by location.
- ✓ Search using VINELink online, or call the 24-hour toll-free line at 866-528-6748
- ✓ Use the person’s full name (and date of birth if you have it)
- ✓ If you have an offender/DOC ID number, keep it handy - it can help you confirm you’ve got the right person
Think the person is in Louisiana DOC custody? Call the DOC Offender Locator at 225-383-4580 anytime from a touch-tone or cell phone.
- Call 225-383-4580 - this line is available any time of day.
- Give the DOC/DPS&C number if you have it - it’s the quickest way for the system to pull the correct record.
- If you don’t have the number, provide full name and date of birth - that’s the other way to access the record.
- Answer any identifying questions - the goal is to make sure the information returned matches the right person.
With the DOC/DPS&C number - or the person's full name and date of birth - the locator can tell you their housing assignment, facility address, contact phone number, and projected release date (when available). The system updates every 24 hours, so a very recent transfer may not show up right away.
Tip: If you can get the DOC/DPS&C number, use it. It speeds up the search and helps avoid mix-ups with similar names.
No results? That doesn't always mean the person isn't in custody. The DOC Offender Locator only covers DOC offenders - it won't show someone who's pre-trial or serving a parish or municipal sentence.
The DOC locator also includes people on probation or parole, not just those in prison. So if someone isn't listed, they may be in local or parish custody, or still awaiting trial.
Practical Tips
- ✓ DOC/DPS&C number (best option if you have it)
- ✓ Full legal name
- ✓ Date of birth
- ✓ For LAVNS/VINELink, remember you can also call the 24-hour toll-free line at 866-528-6748 if you can’t get online
Timing matters. The Louisiana DOC Offender Locator updates every 24 hours. If someone was just sentenced, transferred, or moved, check again after the next daily refresh.
Still can't find the person after trying both tools? Go local. Since the DOC locator doesn't cover pre-trial custody or parish/municipal sentences, you may need to contact the parish sheriff, the local jail (including Napoleonville Detention Center), or the court handling the case. Once you identify the facility, the Louisiana DOC locations page has practical details like each facility's Hours of Operation.
Note: For visiting-hour planning, check the Hours of Operation section for the specific facility on the DOC locations page.
Find an Inmate at Napoleonville Detention Center, LA
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