Louisiana has two separate phone systems. The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections (DPS&C, commonly called DPSC) operates state prisons under a statewide contract with Securus Technologies. Louisiana's 64 parishes each operate their own jails and contract phone services independently.
Louisiana's state prison phone rate was $0.14 per minute as of late 2024, with the state receiving $0.02 per minute of that in commissions from Securus. The FCC 2025 IPCS Order (effective April 6, 2026) caps large state prisons at $0.10/min plus up to $0.02/min facility additive - a ceiling of $0.12/min. Louisiana's rate should have been reduced to comply with that ceiling as of the April 6, 2026 deadline. Verify the current rate at securustech.net or call Securus at 1-800-844-6591.
Louisiana's DPS&C has shifted to using "people in prison" and "imprisoned person" in official materials, though "offenders" appears in older documents.
PART 1 - LOUISIANA STATE PRISONS (DPSC)
Phone vendor: Securus Technologies
Securus Technologies holds the contract for audio call services at Louisiana state correctional facilities.
How DPSC phone calls work
People in prison place outgoing calls only. Incoming calls are not permitted. The person calls from a facility phone to numbers on their approved calling list. All calls are monitored and recorded. Three-way calling, call forwarding, and chain dialing are prohibited.
Calling hours and list management rules vary by facility. Contact the specific facility or check the DPSC informational handbook for family-specific policies.
Setting up a Securus account
Online: securustech.net
Phone: 1-800-844-6591 or 1-972-734-1111 (customer service, 24/7)
App: Securus Mobile app (Android and iOS)
Account types:
AdvanceConnect (prepaid collect): A friend or family-owned account tied to your phone number. When the person in prison calls your number, charges are deducted from your balance. Works for all phone types including cell phones. Maximum deposit: $100 per transaction. Set up at securustech.net or through the Securus app.
Securus Debit: An account owned by the incarcerated person used to pay for calls and other Securus services (eMessaging, tablet media, video visits). This is not a commissary account. Friends and family can deposit into a Securus Debit account. If allowed by the facility, the person in prison can also transfer funds from their commissary account into Securus Debit.
Direct Bill: Available to attorneys and bondsmen for monthly billing.
Rate - effective April 6, 2026
Louisiana DPSC's state prison call rate was $0.14 per minute as of November 2024 testimony before the Louisiana Public Service Commission, with the DPSC retaining $0.02 per minute from each call. The FCC 2025 IPCS Order caps large state prisons at $0.10/min plus up to $0.02/min in facility cost recovery, for a maximum of $0.12/min - below Louisiana's previous contracted rate. Securus was required to comply with the new caps by April 6, 2026.
Verify the exact current rate at securustech.net or by calling Securus at 1-800-844-6591 before adding funds.
Context on free call legislation: In 2023, Louisiana House Bill 545 proposed eliminating charges for telecommunication services in state prisons. The bill was introduced but did not pass. Calls from Louisiana state prisons remain paid.
Email and video visits - Securus/JPay
Securus provides email (electronic messaging) through JPay and video visits through its Video Connect platform at Louisiana state facilities. To send or receive email: jpay.com. For video visits: securustech.net or the Securus app.
Tablet content: Securus also provides tablet-based entertainment and communications at Louisiana facilities. Content is accessed via Securus Debit.
Louisiana's largest prison: The Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola is the largest maximum security prison in the United States by land area. All Securus setup steps above apply to Angola as well as to all other DPSC facilities.
DPSC facilities include
Louisiana State Penitentiary (Angola)
Dixon Correctional Institute
Elayn Hunt Correctional Center
David Wade Correctional Center
Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women
Allen Correctional Center
Avoyelles Correctional Center
Bossier Medium Security
Caldwell Correctional Center
Claiborne Parish Detention Center
Jackson Parish Correctional Center
Richwood Correctional Center
River Correctional Center
Winn Correctional Center
B.B. "Sixty" Rayburn Correctional Center
And others - full list at doc.la.gov/about-the-dpsc/facility-locations/
DPSC also uses private and contract facilities operated by CoreCivic, LaSalle Corrections, and others. Securus is the phone vendor for state-managed facilities; verify separately for privately operated contract facilities.
Imprisoned person locator: VINE at vinelink.vineapps.com/search/LA/Person
DPSC contact and handbook
Informational Handbook for Friends and Families: doc.la.gov (search "Informational Handbook for Friends and Families")
DPSC website: doc.la.gov
Imprisoned person information page: doc.louisiana.gov/offender-programs-resources/offender-information/
PART 2 - LOUISIANA PARISH JAILS (64 parishes)
Louisiana has 64 parishes, each operating its own jail. Parish jails contract phone services independently from DPSC. Most Louisiana parish jails use Securus Technologies, but some use ViaPath/GTL, NCIC Inmate Communications, or other vendors. Always verify the specific parish jail before setting up an account.
Louisiana also has numerous municipal and city jails that contract independently.
How to find the current vendor for a parish jail
Go to the parish sheriff's official website or the parish jail's website and look for pages labeled "Inmate Telephone," "Phone Calls," or "Inmate Services." The vendor name and setup instructions will be listed. If not found online, call the jail directly.
Notable examples (verify before relying on this information)
Jefferson Parish Correctional Center (Gretna):
Vendor: Securus Technologies
One free video visit per week; additional video visits: $12.99 per 20-minute session
Setup: securustech.net or 1-800-844-6591
Orleans Parish (New Orleans area):
Historically Securus; verify current vendor directly.
East Baton Rouge Parish Prison (Baton Rouge):
Verify current vendor directly with East Baton Rouge Parish.
Private-operator parish jails: Several Louisiana parishes house prisoners in facilities operated by LaSalle Corrections or other private firms. Phone vendors at these facilities are contracted by the operator, not the parish directly. Check the facility website or call directly.
What to do before the first call
For a DPSC state prison:
1. Find the person's DPSC number and current facility at vinelink.vineapps.com/search/LA/Person
2. Ask the person in prison to add your phone number to their approved calling list
3. Set up a Securus AdvanceConnect account at securustech.net or call 1-800-844-6591
4. Fund the account (max $100 per deposit)
5. Wait for the person to initiate the call
For a Louisiana parish jail:
1. Find the inmate through the parish jail's inmate search or the parish sheriff's website
2. Identify the current phone vendor from the jail's official website
3. Create an account with that vendor
4. Add funds
5. Wait for the inmate to call
Frequently asked questions
Who provides phone calls at Louisiana state prisons?
Securus Technologies, statewide. Setup at securustech.net; customer service 1-800-844-6591.
What does it cost per minute?
Louisiana's rate was $0.14/min as of late 2024. The FCC 2025 IPCS Order (effective April 6, 2026) caps large state prisons at $0.12/min. Verify the current post-cap rate at securustech.net or call 1-800-844-6591.
Does Louisiana take a commission from phone calls?
Yes. Under the 2024 contract terms, DPSC received $0.02 per minute of each call. Under FCC 2025 rules, facility cost recovery is still allowed up to $0.02/min on top of the base rate.
Can calls be free from Louisiana state prisons?
No. A 2023 bill proposed making calls free, but it did not pass. Calls remain paid.
What about Angola?
The Louisiana State Penitentiary (Angola) uses the same Securus system as all other DPSC facilities. Setup at securustech.net.
Do parish jails use Securus?
Most do, but not all. Jefferson Parish uses Securus. Some Louisiana jails use ViaPath, NCIC, or other vendors. Always verify the specific facility. ====================================================================
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