Livingston Parish Detention Center

If someone has been arrested for an offense in Livingston, LA, he or she will be held in detention at the Livingston Parish Detention Center.

The Livingston Parish Detention Center is the primary and local prison facility in Livingston, Louisiana. It houses people who have been arrested and are waiting for trial or sentencing and those who are serving a misdemeanor term. Some of the inmates who have already been sentenced could be there but for not more than two years. Also, the jail facility accepts and houses inmates from neighboring towns who do not have a jail facility. It is located at Livingston Detention Facility at 28445 Charlie Watts Road, Livingston, LA, and houses only adult inmates. This means that minors and underaged are not accepted unless they are there to visit an inmate.

Type of Facility

Livingston Parish Detention Center is managed and run by the Sheriff department while the state department of corrections heads the prison. Inmates who are waiting for trial or have already been sentenced for not more than one year go to jail while those who have been sentenced for more than one year go to prison. Apart from housing inmates who have at one time or the other defaulted the law, Livingston Detention Center helps to equip the inmates with skills to help them impact positively on the society

Now, you may be confused about how the detention center works or you just want to get information about it. It could be that your friend or loved one has been detained there and you need rules guiding the place. In this article, our criminal defense attorney, Carl Barkemeyer will answer those questions and help you clear your doubts.

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions:

1. How do I locate an inmate at the Livingston Parish Detention Center?

2. Can I call an inmate?

3. What are the visiting hours?

4. How do I send mail to an inmate?

5. How can I send money to an inmate?

6. Does Livingston Detention Center have a commissary?

7. How do I bail out an inmate at the Livingston Detention Center?

8. Can an inmate get a work release?

9. Who can visit an inmate?

1. How do I locate an inmate at the Livingston Parish Detention Center?

If you need to locate an inmate at Livingston Parish Detention Center, then there are certain details you need to have. First, you should know the inmate’s names and also the ID number or the case number. If you need more information regarding this or you still find it confusing, you can always reach the jail with their number at 225-686-2241. There is also an online roster published by the jail where you can see the names of inmates that are detained there.

You can also visit the Livingston Detention Center webpage for more detail and information about locating an inmate.

2. Can I call an inmate?

Every prison or jail facility has its rules concerning making calls to inmates. In this way, the Livingston Detention Center’s phone program may be quite different from others as the inmates are only allowed to make outbound calls. Therefore, you cannot place a call to jail. The calls are also paid for and you can apply for a discount. You can’t call into jail if it is not an emergency. In the case where it is, you will need to relate it with the warden who ascertains whether it is important or not.

One thing to note is that the calls are monitored and recorded. Therefore, you should be mindful of what you are discussing with an inmate because it may be used against you or even the inmate. You should never discuss your case over the jail phone lines. Just keep the conversation easy, light and leave out anything that will be termed as incriminating. You can still go on to check the webpage for guidelines on calling.

3. What are the visiting hours?

If you want to visit an inmate at the Livingston Detention Center, the address is Livingston Parish Detention Center at 28445 Charlie Watts Rd, Livingston, LA. However, before going on to visit your family member, loved one or friend, you need to make sure that you are on the approved list for visitation. Yes, there is usually an approved visitation list which allows only those on the list to visit the inmate in question. If your name is not there, you cannot visit the inmate. To find out if you’re on the approved list, you only need to call the facility and confirm.

Apart from the visitation list, other things will be checked. You have to go with a government-approved means of identification as it will be checked. Also, you must not be a felony ex-convict as it is usually very difficult to allow such people into the prison premises. If you are under the age of 16, you need to visit with a legal guardian so that you will be allowed in.

If you’ve ticked all these “check”, then you should officially apply for visitation so you can be pre-approved. Check with the inmate to know the suitable day and time for visitation so that you can apply for it.

Visiting Days

Here are the days you can visit an inmate alongside the time.

Mondays: 9 am – 6 pm

Tuesdays: 9 am – 6 pm

Wednesdays: 9 am – 6 pm

Thursdays: 9 am – 6 pm

Fridays: 9 am – 6 pm

Visiting Guidelines

Bear in mind that while going to visit an inmate, there are certain rules you need to comply with. They serve as guidelines to ensure that you do not engage in anything out of context. First, note that every visit is non-contact and it is done through a glass partition. To find out if there’s provision for video visitation, you can still call the number 225-686-2241. Every inmate is allowed a maximum of two visitors a day.

You will be thoroughly checked and searched before you can go in to see an inmate. This is because the facility does not want any contraband to be introduced to the inmate. Contraband items include pornographic materials or anything that has obscene content, drugs (medical and illegal), electronic devices, cigarettes, and so on. You are also not allowed to bring food, snacks, lipstick, perfume, clothes, writing materials, drinks or the sort as such items will be purchased from the commissary.

While going into the visiting area, you are not allowed to go in with any electronic device such as tablets, cell phones, smartphones, and so on. Failure to comply with all the rules might get you prosecuted and you can be banned from visiting.

There are also rules guiding what you wear for visitation. On no account should you wear dresses that are revealing, short dresses, tops and dresses with spaghetti straps, hats, and caps or anything that covers the head, tight pants and so on.

4. How do I send mail to an inmate?

Mails are the fastest way to communicate with a friend or loved one who is an inmate at Livingston Detention Center. It is easier and is mostly used because inmates do not have access to smartphones, tablets and such electronic devices.

Before sending mail to an inmate, note that every mail will be checked and thoroughly inspected. A lot of people may try to sneak in contraband items which they were not able to give to an inmate when they visited. The jail facility inspects every mail to be sure that you are not giving the inmate anything that will act as a health hazard to him, other inmates and the jail staff as a whole. Also, try as much as possible not to discuss a case over mail as this has incriminated a lot of inmates. If your mail has anything which is not acceptable, it will be sent back to you and if there’s no return address, the mail will be kept till the inmate is released.

Here’s a list what you should not send to an inmate:

·      Weapons

·      Bombs

·      Escape tools or materials that will affect the security of others

·      Racist items or materials

·      Blank stationeries and cards

·      Obscene literature and materials

·      All other items that are not acceptable.

You can still go on to check their website for more details or you call the facility number.

Now, to send mail to an inmate, you have to use the correct mailing address which is:

“First and Last Name of Inmate

Livingston Parish Detention Center

P.O. Box 1000

LA 70754, Livingston”

Also, your name as the sender must be there and you should also include a return address else your mail will not be delivered.

Sending Greeting Cards, Postcards, and Books.

You may want to send a greeting card to an inmate during the holidays or any other notable occasion. You may also want to send a book, postcard or magazine to an inmate. You should call the facility to know the rules guiding this. Books and magazines need to be sent directly for the publisher with the name of the inmate on the address label.

Note that any books or magazines that you are sending must not contain pornography, obscene or violent content. Books with hardcovers are also not accepted as the inmate could turn it into a fighting weapon.

5. How can I send money to an inmate?

Every prison facility has strict rules guiding every activity that goes on within its premises. This also includes sending things for inmates; mail and money. The money which family members and loved ones send for an inmate is what they use to purchase things from the commissary. The procedures for sending money to an inmate different from county to county or state to state. For Livingston Detention Center, you can send money to an inmate through the following processes:

·      Cash deposit: You can go to the prison facility in-person to deposit cash to an inmate through the lobby or the visitation room.

·      Money order: You could also use a money order and mail it to the inmate. This postal order should bear the full name of the inmate for easy location and access.

·      Online banking: You could use electronic banking and send the money online. Your credit and debit cards can also come in handy to pay it into the inmate’s trust fund.

Whichever one you decide you use, it is very important to note these three things which are the full name of the inmate, ID number and location.

6. Does Livingston Parish Detention Center have a commissary?

Yes, Livingston Detention Center has a commissary. What is a commissary anyway? It is a store or a canteen within the jail premises where inmates can purchase some items such as food, snacks, drinks, shaving items, books, female hygiene products, envelopes, stamps, clothing, footwear, radio and so on. There’s usually a day set out for commissary and an inmate can only purchase items if there are funds in his or her commissary account.

If the inmate has a job, the money is also paid into the commissary account or inmate’s trust account.

Inmate trust account?

Whenever you send money to an inmate, the money is added to the inmate’s trust account. An inmate’s trust account is the personal bank account of that inmate. With this, they can pay for calls, send mails, buy items from the commissary, get payment for jobs if they are working, pay for sending photos with postage, and so on.

If You Notice That Something Is Wrong

If an inmate is requesting for more money than you usually send, there’s every tendency that something is not right. He or she could be using the money for gambling, extortion and so on. Also, on no account should you send money into the trust account of another inmate. You could reach out to the facility for more details.

7. How do I bail out an inmate at the Livingston Parish Detention Center?

If you have a loved one who has been arrested for a crime and is awaiting trial, they are likely to be held in detention at Livingston Detention Center. You can apply for bail. However, the bail posting could be a very complicated one. You will need a criminal defense attorney to help you get the right bail agency for you.

For every inmate who can be bailed, there is usually a bail amount set and if it is not, you can proceed with the bail process. It is either you pay directly with cash or you get a government-approved bail agency to help you out. This agency will send a bail bondsman to represent them. You can then negotiate with them for the process. For the process, you have to pay a bail bond which is usually a little percentage of the entire bond amount. Most times, this bail bond is non-refundable. After then, the bail bondsman will go on to pay the bail amount and every necessary signing begins.

8. Can an inmate get a work release?

Ever heard of a work release? Well, this is when an inmate is released from jail in the daytime to go to work. At the close of work, he or she returns to jail. Yes, this is possible and an inmate can get a work release. However, it does not just happen as there are processes to it. The employer has to fill in and sign some paperwork. It is better to apply for this before being sentenced to jail as it will reduce the time you have to spend in jail waiting for your request to be approved.

9. Who can visit an inmate?

You cannot just walk into the jail facility and request to see an inmate. There are procedures for this. First, you have to confirm that your name is on the approved visitors’ list. Well, here is a list of people allowed to visit an inmate:

·      The members of his or her immediate family

·      Other relatives or extended family members

·      A legal attorney, counselor or advisor

·      Religious leaders and heads

·      Sponsors

·      Friends (They cannot be more than ten)

·      Employers

Apart from this, if you have been convicted of a felony before, you may find it difficult to get access to the prison facility to see an inmate. You just need a clean record and a valid means of identification. If everything is clean and you are on the approved list, you can easily go on to visit an inmate without hassles.

Conclusion on Livingston Parish Detention Center

In general, Livingston Detention Center, Louisiana is a prison facility that houses inmates in Livingston as well as other neighboring towns. It is headed by a sheriff who foresees all the activities that go on in the facility. The current sheriff at the facility is Sheriff Jason Ard with Perry Rushing as the warden.

In the case of a health factor, an inmate may be allowed to see a doctor or health practitioner. He or she is supposed to relate the problem with the prison warden who will, in turn, let other superiors know. Despite all these, the prison facility makes sure its inmates are safe, sound and engaging in activities that would make them better people.

What Should I Do After an Arrest?

If you have been arrested and held in custody at Livingston Parish Detention Center, then you need all the help you can get. You might be waiting for your trial or awaiting sentence. Irrespective of which, you need to speak to a criminal defense attorney in Livingston. This lawyer should be an experienced one that will make you understand the severity of your offense, tell you what to expect from your case while also offering legal advice.

As earlier mentioned, inmates can be allowed to call or reach out to an attorney or legal counselor. In this way, you can always get to your lawyer.

Arrested And Detained At Livingston Parish Detention Center? Get Legal Help

If you or someone you know has been arrested, detained at Livingston Detention Center and is awaiting trial, you can reach out to the Carl Barkemeyer, Criminal Defense Attorney. Every crime needs legal help no matter how minor you may think it is. Yes, a well-experienced criminal defense attorney can make all the difference in your case and keep you on the bright side. Mr. Carl Barkemeyer is a well-experienced criminal defense attorney in Louisiana who has helped a lot of residents and visitors alike with their case. Whether it is a misdemeanor or a felony, we are up to the task and would try as much as possible to make your case favorable.

Being accused of a crime and being held in custody is one of the most trying times of your life. We acknowledge and understand that you might be going through a lot. This is why we don’t hold anything back while helping you. Note that you still have your fundamental human rights intact until you are convicted of a crime. With this knowledge, we strive to protect your rights. If you also need to apply for bail and you don’t know the right step to take or the right bail agency to contact, we are here to help you out.

Reach Out To Us At Any time!

You can reach out to us at any time of the day to help you with your case. Note that anything you say to us is highly confidential and will not be disclosed to a third party without your permission. Call our Livingston criminal lawyer today at 225-964-6720, let us protect and defend your rights, represent you in court and help you with all your judicial proceedings.