Rapides Parish Detention I is a county detention facility at 700 Murray St, operated by the Rapides Parish County Sheriff's Office. Most people here are awaiting trial or serving a sentence under one year. This is not a prison - stays are typically days or months, not years. Information on this page was last verified August 2026.
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If you are not certain they are there, the fastest way to confirm is the Rapides Parish County inmate search or InmateAid's inmate locator, which searches by name across Louisiana facilities.
Booking takes time - sometimes several hours after arrest. If the search comes back empty, wait a few hours and try again before assuming they are somewhere else. You can also pull their arrest record and booking details to confirm the charges and facility assignment. For the most direct answer, call Rapides Parish Detention I at 318-473-6750.
Most people booked at Rapides Parish Detention I appear before a judge within 24 to 48 hours. At that first appearance the judge sets bail - or denies it - based on the charges, history, and flight risk.
If bail is set, your family member can be released by paying the full amount or through a bail bondsman who typically charges 10 percent as a non-refundable fee. If bail is denied or unaffordable, they remain at Rapides Parish Detention I until the case resolves. InmateAid's bail and bond guide covers every option including what to do when you cannot afford a bondsman.
Right after arrest your family member goes through intake - identity verification, medical screening, property inventory, and classification. Classification places them in a housing unit based on charges, prior record, and intake behavior. It is not a punishment. It is how the facility manages a population that ranges from people on minor warrants to individuals facing serious charges.
Phone access and visitation are typically unavailable during the first 24 to 48 hours while booking completes. Once they are assigned to a housing unit those channels open. InmateAid's what happens in jail guide walks through the full intake process step by step.
Your family member calls you - you cannot call them.
Calls from Rapides Parish Detention I go through the facility's contracted phone provider. Visit InmateAid's jail calls page to find the current provider for this facility and get your account set up before the first call.
Phone contact is more important than most people realize going into this. A regular call - even a short one - makes a measurable difference in how someone holds up inside.
Visitation at Rapides Parish Detention I is subject to the facility's current schedule, which can change without notice. Before making the trip, call 318-473-6750 to confirm current hours, any registration requirements, and what you can bring. Showing up without confirming first is the most common mistake families make - it results in a wasted trip and a missed visit.
General rules across most Louisiana county jails: dress conservatively, avoid colors that resemble inmate uniforms, leave your phone in your car, bring valid government-issued ID. Children may be permitted with specific requirements. Read InmateAid's visitation guide for a full pre-visit checklist.
Rapides Parish Detention Center I - Visiting Hours and Guidelines
The Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office oversees visitation across all three detention facilities. Visits are structured to ensure order, security, and an atmosphere conducive to family interaction while adhering to strict guidelines. Below are the schedules and rules for visitation.
Visiting Hours
Non-Trusty Inmates
- Friday: 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
- Saturday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Trusty Inmates
- Saturday: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Child Visits
- Sunday: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Dress Code for Visitors
Visitors are expected to dress appropriately to maintain a family-friendly environment. The following clothing is prohibited:
- Transparent clothing or swimsuits
- Skirts or dresses above the knee or with revealing slits; shorts are not allowed for visitors older than 6 years
- Strapless, tube, halter tops, tank tops, or sleeveless dresses
- Tops exposing the midriff or low-cut blouses/shirts
- Spandex, Lycra, or similar athletic wear
- Clothing with obscene/profane writing, images, or gang-related insignia
- Exposed underwear or clothing with revealing holes
Footwear: Shoes or sandals are required; house slippers and shower shoes are prohibited.
Bags: Only diaper bags for infants are allowed and will be searched upon entry and exit.
General Rules
- Prohibited Items: Cameras, purses, tobacco, medication, and cell phones are contraband. Violations may result in visit termination or criminal charges.
- Identification: Visitors aged 17 and older must present valid photo ID.
- Criminal History Checks: Visitors with felony records must have completed incarceration or probation at least two years prior to visitation.
- Registration: All visitors must register with on-duty Correctional Officers upon entry and notify them upon departure.
- Visitor Behavior: Visitors are responsible for supervising children, and offenders must ensure their visitors adhere to all rules.
- Food/Drinks: Only vending machine items from the TWP lobby are permitted; food is not allowed on the basketball court.
- Restricted Movements: Visitors cannot return to their vehicles or leave and re-enter during visitation.
- Child Supervision: Minors under 16 must be accompanied by a guardian to leave the visiting area. Offenders are prohibited from accompanying children.
Special Notes
- Visitors and offenders must maintain arm’s-length distance during visits, except when children are interacting.
- Only individuals listed on approved visitor forms are permitted on facility grounds.
- Money orders for offenders must be submitted through the designated drop box or during regular working hours and must include the offender’s name and DOC number. Direct exchanges of money are strictly prohibited and considered contraband.
Money on the books - also called the commissary or trust account - gives your family member access to hygiene items, snacks, phone time, and postage. It directly affects their daily comfort and ability to stay connected.
Steps to send money to Rapides Parish Detention I:
1. Go to InmateAid's send money page to find the approved deposit method for this facility
2. Have your family member's full legal name and booking number ready
3. Choose online deposit, phone deposit, or facility kiosk
4. Use the name and number exactly as they appear in the jail's system - any error will delay or reject the deposit
A letter or a printed photo costs almost nothing to send and means far more than most people on the outside appreciate.
Rapides Parish Detention I accepts mail addressed to your family member at 700 Murray St. Include their full legal name and booking number on every piece. Standard rules at most Louisiana county jails: plain white paper only, no staples, no glitter, no stickers, no colored ink. Standard print-size photos only, nothing written on the back. Mail that does not meet the facility's standards will be rejected - and they may not notify you. Keep it simple.
InmateAid's send mail service prints and mails on approved stock from your phone or computer. Formatting rejection is not a risk.
Books and magazines must be ordered new from the publisher or an online retailer - not shipped from your home address. Order through Amazon or directly from the publisher. Anything from a personal address will be rejected.
Visitation rules, phone access, bail processes, inmate search tools, and what happens at release all vary by state. InmateAid's Louisiana prison resources hub covers all of it - written specifically for families navigating the Louisiana system.
Have a specific question from someone who has been through it? Browse questions and answers at InmateAid Louisiana Q&A.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rapides Parish Detention I
How long does county jail booking take?
Booking at a county jail typically takes between 2 and 8 hours depending on how many people are being processed at the same time. During that window your family member may not appear in the inmate search system and phone and visitation access will not yet be available.
What is the difference between county jail and state prison?
County jails are short-term facilities operated by the county sheriff, holding people awaiting trial or serving sentences under one year. State prisons are operated by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections for sentences of one year or more. Rapides Parish Detention I is a county jail - your family member may not have been convicted yet and could be released before trial if bail is posted.
Can I receive calls from someone in county jail?
No. Calls from county jail are outbound only - your family member calls you from the facility phone. You cannot call them directly. Set up an account with the phone provider before the first call so it connects immediately.
How long can someone be held in county jail without being charged?
In most states police have 48 to 72 hours to formally charge someone or they must be released. After charges are filed your family member remains in custody until bail is posted or the case resolves. Timelines vary by state and charge - InmateAid's bail and bond guide has state-specific information.
What can I bring when visiting someone in county jail?
Most county jails permit only valid government-issued photo ID for visitors. Leave your phone, wallet, keys, and personal items in your car or facility lockers. Call Rapides Parish Detention I at 318-473-6750 before your visit to confirm current rules - they vary by facility and change without notice.
County jail time is hard in a specific way. The uncertainty - not knowing how long, not knowing what comes next - is its own kind of weight. What you can control is the connection. Calls, letters, visits, money on the books. Every one of those things tells your family member that someone out here is paying attention and is not going anywhere.
InmateAid was built for exactly this moment. Use us.