Security takes precedence in all activities that occur on institutional grounds. Attention to security, in turn, enables the department to provide a safe and orderly environment for staff, inmates, and visitors. While security concerns are the heart of institutional operations, they are also generally outside the everyday reality of persons who enter institutional grounds for Parole Board or Pardon Board hearings. For that reason, we offer you the following information:

Personal identification. Visitors must have appropriate picture identification. Generally, this would be any identification issued by a federal, state, or local government agency. The identification card must include the individual's name and date of birth.

Appropriate dress. This term is most easily translated to mean that visitors shall dress "conservatively", which rules out things like tight fitting, very short, or see-through clothing and other garments that could be viewed as "seductive" in a prison setting (for example, sun dresses, tank tops, and shirts or blouses that do not reach below the waist). Visitors must wear shoes appropriate for street wear. Visitors will not be permitted to enter the facility wearing blue chambray shirts, T-shirts in combination with bluejeans, gray or white sweatshirts, and blue denim jackets, which are standard items of dress for inmates.

Contraband. Contraband consists of items banned from institutional grounds because they somehow threaten safety and security. Major contraband items include weapons, ammunition, alcohol, drugs, explosives and other combustibles, and escape plans. According to La. R.S. 14-402, introduction of contraband onto prison grounds is a felony. If a visitor reaches the front gate and realizes he is carrying contraband, he should declare it to the front gate officers before entering the facility grounds. The following guidelines regarding the control of contraband should be noted:

• The front gate officers will direct visitors to their parking area. Vehicles should be locked. Some facilities may require that you store your car keys in the visitor processing area. Handcuff keys are not permitted in the facility and should be left at home.
• Visitors are not permitted to carry more than $100 in cash into secure areas. Wearing expensive jewelry onto facility grounds is not advisable.
• Brief cases are permitted to be carried into hearings; however, they will be thoroughly searched. Purses are not permitted to be carried into secure areas.
• To minimize disruptions to hearings, cameras, portable radios/CD Players and cell phones are not permitted inside the secure areas of the facilities. Tape recorders are not permitted; however, arrangements can be made to have the proceedings recorded with advance notice
• Individual medications (prescription and non-prescription) must be limited to that which will be needed during a visitor's stay. It is required that these medications be declared at the front gate and presented for inspection during visitor processing.
• Many seemingly harmless items may fall under this category. If you are in doubt whether an item is considered contraband, please ask or leave the item at home.