David Wade Correctional Center

David Wade Correctional Center is a mixed-security state prison for male inmates that is located in Homer, Louisiana, near the Louisiana-Arkansas border. It is operated by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections and has a maximum capacity of 1,244 inmates, with 48 percent being maximum-custody inmates.

The N-5 Special Management Unit at David Wade is a special protection unit for prisoners at risk. The unit houses former prison officials, convicted ex-police officers from New Orleans, contract killers, pedophiles, and young people with life sentences.

David Wade Correctional Center opened in 1980 and was the first medium-security state prison in north Louisiana. DWCC is located on approximately 1,500 acres of land, most of which is timberland. 

The original facility was designed to house approximately 650 minimum/medium custody offenders comprised primarily of four dormitories and one special management unit and is commonly referred to as the North Compound. In the spring of 1987, an additional compound was added for the primary purpose of housing disciplinary offenders. The unit consists of four cell blocks and one transitional dormitory and is referred to as the South Compound. 

The Classification Department at DWCC ensures that various aspects of incarceration related to public safety, rehabilitation, discipline, and welfare are met for offenders from the time of preliminary classification through until discharge. The classification program promotes the development of life, job, and educational skills within the offender population and encourages participation in various self-help groups and organizations.

DWCC also serves as the Northeast Regional facility responsible for the guidance and oversight of DPS&C offenders housed in twenty-seven local jail facilities, twelve Transitional Work Programs and one Reentry Reentry Program (female).

It is the philosophy of DWCC to provide correctional services in a professional manner in order to protect the safety of the public, the staff and the offender population. Consistent with this, it is their responsibility to provide meaningful opportunities to enhance (through a variety of educational, work, social services, and medical programs) the ability of the individual offender to successfully reintegrate into society upon release.

According to police, in July 2017 a prisoner kidnapped the stepdaughter of an assistant warden, and the kidnapping resulted in her death. The inmate died during a shootout with prison guards.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Regular visiting days are Saturday and Sunday only. Visiting hours are between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. However, incoming visitors will not be admitted between 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. 

Also, no visits start after 3:00 p.m. Only six visitors will be allowed in the visiting room to visit an offender at any given time. There will be no visiting on a weekend in which the Sunday is the fifth Sunday of the month.

General Visiting Rules

Each offender must request that visitors be approved for his visiting list. The Visitation Department will advise the offender of approval or denial of the visitor. The offender is responsible for notification to his visitor of the final outcome. 

An approved visitor may visit two times each month. Visitors must be on the “approved visiting list,” or have approval for a special visit in advance by the warden or his designee. Special visits must be requested by the offender.

Children who are fourteen and under do not need to be on the visiting list if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. Persons in this category may be requested to provide a birth certificate as verification. 

Visitors who are fifteen years of age and over must have picture identification in order to visit an offender. Visitors can deposit money in the account of the offender by using the JPAY kiosk located in the Visitor Processing Area. 

Dress Code

Visitors should be aware that visiting areas are designed to cultivate a family friendly atmosphere and visitors should act and dress accordingly. The following apparel is considered inappropriate and will result in the denial of visits:

• Clothing that is similar in appearance to clothing worn by the offender population (blue chambray shirts and gray or white sweatshirts worn with blue jeans)
• Clothing that is similar in appearance to the clothing worn by correctional officers (camouflage, blue BDU’s)
• Transparent clothing
• Swimsuits
• Skirts, shorts, skorts, culottes, and dresses shorter than one inch above the knee cap or with revealing slits
• Strapless tops, halter tops, tank tops, and strapless dresses
• Tops that expose the midriff
• Low-cut shirts or dresses
• Spandex or lycra pants or leotards
• Clothing with revealing holes or tears above the knee
• Clothing or accessories with obscene or profane writing or images
• House slippers and shower shoes (shoes designated for street wear must be worn)

What can you bring to a visit?

Visitors are allowed to bring only the following items into the Visiting Room:

• Picture ID
• One car key or keyless device
• Change in a see-through bag or small plastic container

Visitors with small children will be allowed to carry one diaper, one baby bottle or child’s cup, one pacifier, and/or baby wipes in a see-through bag (enough for one diaper change).

All other items must be left in your vehicle.

The Canteen Package Program gives family and friends an opportunity to order pre-approved food and hygiene products and personal property items for their loved ones incarcerated at David Wade Correctional Center. Click here for more information or to place an order.

How to Call an Inmate

How to Send Money

​Programs For ​Inmates

Educational Programming

Educational programs offered at DWCC are in keeping with the Department’s mission of providing opportunities for offenders to enhance and obtain job skills sufficient to successfully reintegrate into society. DWCC partners with the Louisiana Technical College System and the Department of Education to provide the following variety of educational programs:

Adult Basic Education/HSE

Academic programs in Adult Basic Education (ABE) are available and include an instructional level for non-readers up to the fourth grade; pre-HSE, covering grade levels five through eight; and High School Equivalency (HSE) programs, covering grade nine through completion to attain a diploma.

Developmental Studies

Developmental studies provide educational programming for offenders who have completed their GED or HSE, but failed to meet a sufficient score on the entrance test for admittance into a vocational program.

Special School District

The Special School District 1 Educational Program provides for the search and identification of offenders up to age 25 who have been determined to have medical, emotional, and/or physical needs which could not be met in the regular classroom.  Individual education plans (I.E.P.S.) are prepared to accommodate the offender’s special needs.

Vocational Education Programs

The Louisiana Technical College Northwest Campus administers the vocational educational programs offered at DWCC. Certificates in specialized programs include Technical Competency Areas (TCA), Certificate of Technical Studies (CTS), or the entire curriculum to earn a technical diploma in the following fields is available:

• Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
• Carpentry
• Welding
• Other Programs & Services

Mental Health/Social Services

The DWCC Mental Health and Social Services Department provides a range of resources appropriate to the needs of the offender including individual and group counseling, family planning/counseling, parental education, and community services. All counseling services are administered by a qualified mental health professional. Specialized treatment programs include the following:

• Crisis intervention
• Sex offender treatment
• Anger management
• Parenting
• Substance abuse counseling

Reentry

DWCC’s Reentry initiatives provide assessment, identification, and linkage for offenders with services specific to their reentry needs. Offenders begin preparing for release from the point of entry into the institution and through the development of Reentry Accountability Plans (ReAP). The offender also receives 100 hours of pre-release instruction which includes effective communication, victim awareness, anger management, problem-solving, values, and goal setting, health and wellness, substance abuse treatment, budgeting and money management, family dynamics, employment skills, and information concerning conditions of parole prior to release.

Faith-based Programming

Faith-based programming is an essential component in the overall mission of DWCC. Well-trained religious volunteers offer a significant resource and are essential to the success in meeting the goal of providing a meaningful opportunity for change. Religious programming is coordinated by a full-time Chaplain. The DWCC Chaplaincy provides daily faith-based programming for the offender population. The services range from traditional worship to contemporary praise and worship services. Several programs incorporate study groups of various religious beliefs.

Community Service

DWCC provides staff and offenders for participation in Project Clean Up in the DOTD district that includes Union and Lincoln parishes. Additionally, offender work crews provide general maintenance services to the Town of Homer and Haynesville along with providing assistance during emergency and natural disaster situations. 

Pictures of David Wade Correctional Center

Careers at David Wade Correctional Center

If you are interested in a career with the Louisiana Department of Corrections at the David Wade Correctional Center, you can click here for more information.