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Find an Inmate at Angola

Louisiana DOC inmates are searchable statewide on VINELink. Here's how to search and what to do if someone doesn't appear.

Overview

Louisiana State Penitentiary holds Louisiana state DOC inmates serving maximum-security sentences. The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections uses VINELink as the official statewide inmate locator. There’s no separate Angola roster. If your loved one is in Louisiana DOC custody, VINELink is your first stop. Angola is where Louisiana sends its maximum-security inmates, and many of them stay for years or decades. If they’ve been sentenced in Louisiana and classified maximum security, there’s a good chance this is where they are.

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Find an Inmate at Louisiana State Penitentiary (Angola), LA

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Quick Facts

Search Louisiana DOC inmates at vinelink.vineapps.com/search/LA/Person.
Search by full name. New transfers may take 24 to 48 hours to appear.
Angola holds Louisiana state DOC maximum-security inmates, not parish or federal inmates.
If someone doesn't appear after 48 hours, call Angola at (225) 655-4411.
Sign up for free release and transfer alerts through VINELink.
Angola is the only maximum-security state prison in Louisiana. Most long-term high-security sentences end up here.

Where to Search

VINELink: vinelink.vineapps.com/search/LA/Person

The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections uses VINELink as its official statewide inmate locator. Search by the inmate’s full name. The system covers all Louisiana DOC-sentenced inmates statewide, including those at Angola and other state facilities.

There is no separate inmate roster for Angola. VINELink is the system to use.

Who Is at Angola?

Angola holds Louisiana state DOC maximum-security inmates. Adults convicted in Louisiana courts, sentenced under the state Department of Public Safety and Corrections, and classified at the maximum-security level. They are not:

Federal inmates (search bop.gov for federal prisoners)
Pre-trial detainees (those are held at parish jails, not Angola)
Low- or medium-security state inmates (those go to other Louisiana DOC facilities)

Angola is Louisiana’s only maximum-security state prison. If someone was sentenced in Louisiana and classified as maximum security, Angola is where they will typically be housed. Maximum-security inmates at Angola often serve long sentences with few transfers. Once placed at Angola, they tend to stay.

Why Someone Might Not Appear

Recent transfer. New arrivals or transfers can take 24 to 48 hours to show up in VINELink after processing. Give it two full days before calling.
Name variation. VINELink searches by the legal name on file with DOC. Try alternate spellings, or search by last name only.
Not yet sentenced. Pre-trial detainees held locally on parish charges are at parish jails, not Angola.
Different facility. If they were recently reclassified, they may have been moved to another DOC facility. VINELink covers all state DOC facilities, so a name search will show their current location regardless of where they are.
Released. If they’ve completed their sentence, they won’t appear as currently incarcerated.

When to Call the Facility

If someone doesn’t appear in VINELink after 48 hours and you have reason to believe they’re at Angola, call (225) 655-4411. Have their full legal name and any DOC ID number you have ready.

Getting Alerts Through VINELink

VINELink lets you register for free custody status notifications. You’ll receive a call, text, or email whenever the inmate’s DOC status changes, including:

Transfers to another facility
Release or completion of sentence
Escape

Families Also Ask

6 of 6 questions

Where do I search for an Angola inmate?

Go to vinelink.vineapps.com/search/LA/Person and search by the inmate's full legal name. VINELink is Louisiana DOC's official statewide inmate locator and covers all state DOC facilities including Angola.

Inmate Search

Why doesn't the person I'm looking for appear in VINELink?

New transfers can take 24 to 48 hours to update. Try alternate name spellings. If they still don't appear after two days, call Angola at (225) 655-4411. They may also be at a different facility or may have been released.

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Does Angola have its own inmate roster?

No. Angola does not maintain a public inmate roster. All Louisiana DOC inmates, including those at Angola, are searchable through VINELink at vinelink.vineapps.com/search/LA/Person.

Inmate Search

How do I sign up for transfer and release notifications?

Register at vinelink.vineapps.com using the inmate's name and facility. You'll receive free automated alerts by phone, text, or email when their DOC status changes, including transfers, release, or escape.

Inmate Search

Who does Angola hold?

Angola holds Louisiana state DOC maximum-security inmates. Adults convicted in Louisiana courts and serving sentences under the state Department of Public Safety and Corrections at the maximum-security level. They are not federal inmates (search bop.gov for those) and are not pre-trial parish detainees.

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If someone was sentenced in Louisiana to a long prison term, are they at Angola?

Likely yes, if they were classified as maximum security. Angola is Louisiana's only maximum-security state prison. Maximum-security inmates tend to stay at Angola for long periods with few transfers. Search VINELink to confirm their current location.

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