How to Visit Allen Correctional Center

The 2:00 p.m. Check-In Cutoff

This is the most important thing to know before making the drive to Kinder.

Visiting hours at Allen Correctional Center run from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. But the facility does not admit visitors after 2:00 p.m. That means you have to clear check-in before 2:00 p.m. or you will be turned away, even if visiting is still technically open for two more hours.

If you’re driving from Lake Charles (about 40 miles), Shreveport, or farther, plan to arrive by noon. That gives you buffer time for check-in, any processing delays, and unexpected traffic.

Fifth Weekend Restriction

Some months have five Saturdays or five Sundays. When that happens, Allen Correctional Center limits visitation:

• Minimum trusty and medium honor inmates: may have visitors on the fifth weekend
• Medium custody (general) and maximum custody inmates: may NOT have visitors on the fifth weekend

If you’re not sure whether your loved one’s custody level allows visits on a fifth weekend, call the facility at (337) 639-2943 before making the trip.

How to Get on the Approved Visitor List

The process is inmate-initiated:

1. The inmate contacts their case manager or unit officer and requests that your name be added to their approved visitor list.
2. They’ll provide you with a visitor application form to complete and return to the facility.
3. The facility runs a criminal background check on all prospective visitors.
4. The facility notifies the inmate whether you were approved or denied.

Plan several weeks for this process. Don’t show up expecting to visit before you’ve received confirmation of approval.

Visiting Hours

Day	Hours	Last Admission
Saturday	8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.	2:00 p.m.
Sunday	8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.	2:00 p.m.

Fifth weekend restrictions apply as described above.

What to Wear

Louisiana DOC enforces dress code rules at all facilities including Allen Correctional Center. The following are not allowed:

• Clothing resembling inmate uniforms (khaki, denim, gray, orange)
• Clothing resembling staff or law enforcement uniforms
• Revealing clothing: midriff, shoulders, back, cleavage, or thighs must be covered
• Shorts or skirts above the knee
• Tight or form-fitting clothing
• Hats, sunglasses, or face coverings
• Sleeveless tops or tank tops

Wear solid-colored, non-khaki clothing with modest coverage and closed-toe shoes.

What to Bring

• Valid government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, passport, or military ID) for all adults
• Cash for vending machines in small bills or coins
• For infants: basic necessities in a clear bag

Leave in your car: phone, keys, wallet, food, gum, any electronics, jewelry beyond simple wedding bands or stud earrings, and anything that could trigger metal detectors.

How Visits Work

All visitors pass through metal detectors and may be subject to pat-down searches. Visits take place in a supervised visiting room. Physical contact, such as a brief hug at the beginning and end of the visit, may be permitted depending on the inmate’s status and facility policy.

Before You Drive to Kinder

Call Allen Correctional Center at (337) 639-2943 the morning of your visit to confirm visitation is open. Visits can be suspended without notice due to lockdowns, emergencies, or facility counts. Kinder is a rural community in Allen Parish. Plan for gas and extra travel time.