Raymond Laborde Correctional Center

The Raymond Laborde Correctional Centerㅡformerly Avoyelles Correctional Centerㅡis a mixed-security Louisiana state prison for male inmates that is located in Cottonport, Louisiana. It is operated by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, and has a maximum capacity of 1,564 inmates.

It is the mission of the Raymond Laborde Correctional Center to enhance public safety through safe and secure incarceration of offenders, effective probation/parole supervision, and proven rehabilitative individuals and communities victimized by crime.

The goals of RLCC include maximizing public safety, provide for the safety of staff and inmates, provide basic services, and give the inmates the opportunity for change and making amends.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Regular visiting days for general population inmates are Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Arrivals must be scheduled prior to 2:30 p.m. Visitors will not be allowed in after 2:30 p.m.

The fifth full weekend of the month is reserved for offenders on Honor/Trusty status only, with Trusty offenders having the option of a picnic visit. All others will be denied visitation.

Each approved visitor is allowed two visits per month. At Raymond Laborde Correctional Center, offenders may visit with only four visitors at any one time. This includes both children and adults. Visits may last three hours. However, the warden retains the right to determine the amount of time that a visitor may visit the offender.

Those offenders assigned to extended lock-down and maximum custody offenders on non-contact visiting status are limited to visitation on Thursdays only.

All offenders housed in Administrative Segregation, Extended Lock-down as well as working cellblock offenders on non-contact visits will be allowed to visit on Thursdays only, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 2:30 PM. 

Visits will be limited to one hour, and will take place in the designated non-contact visiting rooms in the Visiting Building. General population offenders on non-contact visits will visit on Saturdays and Sundays. Visits will be limited to two hours and will take place in the designated non-contact visiting rooms in the Visiting Building.

Offenders serving cell/room confinement on weekends will not be allowed to visit except on the fourth full weekend (Saturday or Sunday) of the month.

General Visiting Rules

All persons over the age of 18 must be on the offender’s approved visiting list. Do not attempt to visit any offender until you have been approved for visiting. Please contact your inmate to verify that you have been approved. Do not call the facility as this information will not be provided over the phone.

It is the policy of Raymond Laborde Correctional Center that any visitor is subject to a personal search while on institutional grounds.

If you are approved to visit at Raymond Laborde Correctional Center, you will be required to furnish positive identification each time you visit. All visitors, except minors under eighteen, must have a card with his/her picture identification on it in order to visit an offender. If you do not bring a picture identification card with you on each visit, you will not be allowed to visit the offender.

Visitors are not allowed to give anything to an inmate. Introduction of contraband into the institution will result in your removal from the visiting room and possible prosecution by the courts. This includes any controlled dangerous substance, unless prescribed in original container, illegal drugs, weapons, ammunition or explosive devices, alcoholic beverages, cameras, handcuff keys, tape recorders, mace, cell phone, or any item detrimental to the security of the institution.

Intoxication, improper dress, misconduct, and loud or boisterous activity while visiting will cause the visit to be terminated and the visitor’s name to possibly be removed from the offender’s approved visiting list.

Dress Code

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

• Clothing that is similar in appearance to the clothing worn by the unit’s offender population. This includes blue chambray shirts and gray or white sweatshirts are not allowed. Male visitors are not allowed to wear white t-shirts in combination with blue jeans.
• Clothing that is similar in appearance to the clothing worn by correctional officers, including camouflage, blue BDU’s, etc.
• Transparent clothing
• Swimming suits
• Skirts, shorts, skorts, culottes, and dresses shorter than one inch above the knee cap or those with revealing slits
• Strapless, tube and halter tops, take tops and strapless dresses. Female visitors must wear a bra.
• Tops that expose the midriff
• Low cut blouses, shirts, and dresses
• Spandex, Lycra or Spandex-like athletic pants, aerobic/exercise tights or leotards
• Underwear cannot be exposed
• Clothing with revealing holes or tears one inch above the knee cap
• Clothing or accessories with obscene or profane writing, images, or pictures
• Gang or club-related clothing or insignia indicative of gang affiliation
• All visitors must wear shoes. House slippers and shower shoes are not allowed. Footwear must remain on feet at all times. These restrictions apply equally to men, women, and children. Thong-type sandals or flip-flops are allowed.
• See-through clothing, or any form of seductive garment, which may include mini-skirts, split skirts, midriffs, halter-tops, tank tops, or any extremely tight or revealing clothing, is not allowed.

What can you bring to a visit?

Tobacco products are not allowed in the visiting room or the picnic area. Visitors may bring purses or wallets into the visiting room, but they cannot exceed the size of a standard men’s wallet. Visitors are allowed to bring a maximum of $100.00, cash only, into the visiting room. 

A reasonable amount of female hygiene products and items necessary for the care of babies (bottles, diapers, small blankets, etc.) are allowed. All such items should be kept to a minimum, and will be searched to the extent possible to minimize the potential for the introduction of contraband.

Visitors may deposit up to $499.99 in an offender’s account while visiting. This is accomplished through the kiosk location in the visitation processing building. 

Books, magazines, newspapers, etc. must be directly from publishers and approved vendors. 

Inmates are not allowed to receive stamps through the mail.

Money intended for deposit in an offender’s account should be sent in the form of a postal money order or bank cashier's check within the United States made payable to the offender. All such deposits must be mailed to: 

Cashier
Raymond Laborde Correctional Center,
1630 Prison Road
Cottonport, LA 71327

The offender’s full name and DOC number must be written on the money order or cashier’s check. Funds intended for deposit should not be placed in an envelope addressed to the offender. Cash and personal checks will not be accepted.

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 Avoyelles 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

All RLCC offenders are eligible to benefit from educational services. RLCC provides direct educational services to approximately 30 percent of its offender population at a time. Those services are designed from literacy to post secondary education. Post secondary consists of job life skill classes and vocational programs. All of these services are provided at no cost to the offender. College level correspondence courses are available upon request at the offender’s expense and with the approval of the Warden.

Education is provided on a voluntary basis. Students must request enrollment into available classes for which they are eligible. Waiting lists are maintained for classes and programs where space is not available. Night GED classes are available to those that hold a full-time job during the day and are not available for the regular education programs.

RLCC offers Literacy, Adult Basic Education (ABE), General Equivalency Diploma (GED) and Special School District (SSD) services to the offender population. 

Vocational Programs

The Central Louisiana Technical Community College (Avoyelles Campus) is presently offering seven distinct vocational programs at RLCC. These courses offer full instruction and hands-on learning to provide participants with the knowledge to undertake a job in that particular field after the course is completed. Offenders are administered a pre-screening test (TABE) before becoming eligible for enrollment. After successfully completing a program, the offender will receive a certificate/diploma that is valid throughout the state. All eligibility criteria are set by the Central Louisiana Technical Community College.

Auto Collision Repair

This course teaches how to repair and paint automobile bodies and parts.

Automotive Technology

This course teaches how to repair the mechanical parts to a vehicle and how to troubleshoot problems.

Barbering

This course teaches the art of hair design as well as health and care of the scalp and face.

Building Technology

This course teaches a variety of entry level construction trades. Carpentry, masonry, and plumbing are all part of this program.

Culinary Arts

This course teaches how to follow recipes, prepare meals, bake, and convert measurements for adjusting recipes.

Masonry

This course teaches the science of bricklaying within the residential and commercial settings and teaches the participant to become a masonry helper by trade. The class also teaches the knowledge of the tools used and the safety practices applied when using these tools on the job.

Welding

This course teaches the basics of welding.

Other Programs & Services

Mental Health Services

The Mental Health Department provides a range of services appropriate to the needs of the offender, including psychiatric care for offenders with mental illness and individual and group counseling. All counseling services are administered by a qualified mental health professional. Specialized treatment programs include the following:

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

The Mental Health Department also completes aftercare referrals to appropriate agencies for offenders who discharge with mental health needs.

Reentry

RLCC’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) guiding reentry planning and offender programming. 

Treatment staff, with assistance from outside agencies, conducts educational workshops with offenders preparing for reintegration into society. The offender receives 100 hours of instruction which include communication skills, victim awareness, value development, health and wellness, substance abuse, money management, job seeking 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 RLCC. 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 RLCC Chaplaincy provides daily faith-based programming for the offender population. 

The services range from traditional worship to contemporary praise and worship services. Special programs such as Strengthening the Family, Malachi Dads, and Returning Hearts provide opportunities for the offender to remain close with their families. Several programs incorporate study groups of various religious beliefs. Services for all major Christian denominations, Islamic and Native American Indian beliefs are facilitated through the Chaplaincy.

The Chaplain’s Department also provides Certified Treatment and Rehabilitation Programs (CTRP) such as NOBTS Certificate Program, Inside/Outside Dad, School of Faith, Men’s Work, and Preparing for Success on the Outside. If successfully completed, the programs can reduce incarceration time for offenders. 

These classes, along with others, are facilitated by trained volunteers as well as certified offender facilitators as well. Upon graduation, the faith-based programs provide a degree, diploma, or certificate of completion. Others, like In Christ International Bible College, provide either an associate’s degree or diploma once completed. 

Under the Brother’s Keeper Program, the needs of the offender population are ministered to by providing indigent supplies on a bi-montly basis and visiting the sick in the infirmary, the elderly on the tiers, and cell blocks multiple times during the week. The sick and elderly are escorted to church when requested and bible study is provided on an individual basis.

Community Service

Offender work crews provide general maintenance services to the Town of Cottonport, along with providing assistance during emergency and natural disaster situations.

Pictures of Raymond Laborde Correctional Center

Careers at Raymond Laborde Correctional Center

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