How to Visit Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women

The Visiting Schedule at a Glance

LCIW has one of the most detailed visiting schedules in Louisiana. Here’s how it breaks down:

Day	Who Can Visit	Hours	Notes
Monday	Death Row only	9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.	1 visitor at a time
Wednesday	Death Row only	9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.	1 visitor at a time
Friday	All women (all custody levels)	9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.	Includes maximum, segregation, disciplinary
Saturday	Medium and minimum custody	9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.	Alternating weekends by dorm
Sunday	Medium and minimum custody	9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.	Alternating weekends by dorm

No visitors are admitted after 1:15 p.m. on any day. If you arrive at 1:20 p.m., you will not get in.

The Saturday/Sunday Dorm Rotation

This is the part that catches most families off guard. Medium and minimum custody women get contact visits on Saturday and Sunday, but not every weekend. The facility divides dorms into alternating groups, and each dorm is assigned specific weekends throughout the month.

You must know which weekends your loved one’s dorm is scheduled before you travel. If you show up on an off weekend, you will be turned away.

How to find out:

• Ask her directly. She knows her dorm’s rotation.
• Call LCIW at (225) 319-2701 and provide her name and ID number.

Friday visits are open to all women regardless of dorm rotation, so if you can’t figure out the weekend schedule, Friday is the safe option.

Visitor Limits by Custody Level

The number of people allowed at one visit depends on her classification:

• Minimum custody: Up to 6 visitors at one time
• Medium custody: Up to 4 visitors at one time
• Maximum custody: Up to 2 visitors at one time
• Death Row: 1 visitor at a time

Each approved visitor is limited to 2 visits per month. Each visit can last up to 2 hours.

How to Get on the Approved Visitor List

The process starts with her:

1. She contacts her case manager and requests that your name be added to her approved visitor list.
2. She gets you a visitor application form to complete and return to the facility.
3. LCIW runs a background check on every prospective visitor.
4. You’re notified of approval or denial through her case manager.

Plan several weeks for this process. You cannot visit until you’re on the approved list.

What to Wear

Louisiana DOC enforces dress codes at all facilities. The following are not allowed:

• Clothing resembling inmate uniforms: khaki, denim, gray, orange
• Clothing resembling staff or law enforcement: scrubs, military-style clothing
• 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, modest clothing and closed-toe shoes.

What to Bring

• Valid government-issued photo ID for all adult visitors (driver’s license, state ID, passport, or military ID)
• Small cash for vending machines
• For infants: basic necessities in a clear bag

Leave your phone, keys, wallet, gum, food, jewelry (beyond simple wedding bands or stud earrings), and any electronics in your car.

Before You Drive to St. Gabriel

Call LCIW at (225) 319-2701 to confirm visitation is open that day. Visits can be suspended without notice due to lockdowns, counts, or facility emergencies. St. Gabriel is southeast of Baton Rouge, so factor in travel time and check road conditions before leaving.