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How to Visit Raymond Laborde Correctional Center

Weekend visits only. Check-in cutoff is 2:30 p.m. Visits are up to 3 hours. Fifth weekend is Honor/Trusty status only.

Overview

Raymond Laborde Correctional Center in Cottonport, Louisiana allows visits on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The check-in cutoff is 2:30 p.m. Each visit can be up to 3 hours, which is longer than most Louisiana state facilities. Plan your drive time so you’re checked in well before the cutoff. Cottonport is a small town about 30 miles south of Alexandria, so allow extra travel time from larger cities.

Visit Day Checklist

Before You Go

Get on the approved visitor list

Required before your first visit.
Mark Saturday or Sunday

8:00 AM to 3:30 PM, check-in cutoff 2:30 PM.
Plan for up to 3 hours

Visits here run longer than most Louisiana state facilities.
Plan your travel time

Cottonport is about 30 miles south of Alexandria.

Quick Facts

Visiting days: Saturdays and Sundays.
Visiting hours: 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Check-in cutoff is 2:30 p.m., no exceptions.
Each visit is up to 3 hours.
Maximum 4 visitors per visit, including children.
Each approved visitor is allowed 2 visits per month.
You must be on the inmate's approved visitor list before your first visit.
Valid government-issued photo ID required. No phones, cameras, or electronics inside.
Non-contact visits for maximum custody and administrative segregation: Thursdays only, 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 1-hour limit.
The fifth full weekend of the month is for Honor/Trusty status inmates only. Regular inmates cannot have visitors that weekend.

Visiting Hours at Raymond Laborde Correctional Center

Day	Hours	Check-in Cutoff	Notes
Saturday	8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.	2:30 p.m.	General population
Sunday	8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.	2:30 p.m.	General population
Thursday	8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.	2:30 p.m.	Maximum custody and administrative segregation only, non-contact, 1-hour limit

The 3-hour visit window at RLCC is longer than what most Louisiana state prisons offer. Arriving early gives you the most time with your family member.

Fifth weekend rule: The fifth full weekend of the month is reserved for inmates with Honor or Trusty status only. If a month has five full weekends, regular visitors cannot come on that fifth Saturday or Sunday.

How to Get on the Approved Visitor List

The inmate has to start this process:

The inmate contacts their case manager or unit officer and requests your name be added to their approved visitor list.
The case manager gives the inmate a visitor application form for you to fill out.
You complete the form and return it to the facility.
The facility runs a criminal background check on all prospective visitors.
The facility notifies the inmate whether you were approved or denied.

Plan several weeks for this process. If you’ve been denied, the inmate can request a review through their case manager. The visitor list is typically limited to 10 people under Louisiana DOC rules.

Visit Limits

Each approved visitor can visit 2 times per month. A maximum of 4 visitors at one time are allowed per visit, including children. Plan your schedule early so family members can coordinate their monthly visits.

What to Wear

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

Clothing resembling inmate uniforms (khaki, denim, gray, orange)
Clothing resembling staff or law enforcement uniforms (scrubs, etc.)
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 with 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. Small bills or coins
For infants: basic necessities in a clear bag

Leave in your car: phone, keys, wallet, food, gum, 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. A brief hug or handshake at the start and end of the visit may be permitted depending on the inmate’s status and housing unit.

Before You Drive to Cottonport

Call Raymond Laborde Correctional Center at (318) 876-2891 before you leave to confirm visitation is open that day. Visits can be suspended without notice due to lockdowns, facility emergencies, or other operational reasons. Cottonport is a rural area. Plan your gas and allow extra drive time from Alexandria, Baton Rouge, or other cities.

Families Also Ask

6 of 7 questions

What are the visiting hours at Raymond Laborde Correctional Center?

Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Check-in cutoff is 2:30 p.m. Arriving after 2:30 p.m. means you will not be admitted. Maximum custody and segregation inmates visit on Thursdays only, with a 1-hour non-contact limit.

Visitation

How long are visits at Raymond Laborde Correctional Center?

Each visit is up to 3 hours. This is longer than many Louisiana state prisons. But you must check in before 2:30 p.m. to get your full visit time. Arriving at 2:00 p.m. still gives you time for a solid visit.

Visitation

How do I get on the approved visitor list at RLCC?

The inmate contacts their case manager and requests a visitor application form for you. You fill it out and return it to the facility. The facility runs a background check before approving. Plan several weeks for this process.

Visitation

How many visitors are allowed at Raymond Laborde at one time?

Maximum 4 visitors per visit, including children. Each approved visitor is allowed 2 visits per month.

Visitation

Can I visit on the fifth weekend of the month?

Not if you're a regular visitor. The fifth full weekend of the month is reserved for Honor/Trusty status inmates only. Regular inmates cannot receive visitors that weekend.

Visitation

Can maximum custody inmates have visitors at RLCC?

Yes, but on a different schedule. Maximum custody and administrative segregation inmates visit on Thursdays only from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Visits are non-contact and limited to 1 hour.

Visitation

Can I bring my phone into the visit?

No. Phones, cameras, and all electronics must stay in your car or in facility lockers. Bring your photo ID, small cash for vending machines, and nothing else.

Visitation