Acadiana Center for Youth Visitation Center

Acadiana Center for Youth - Visitation

Visiting Youth in Secure Care

Support from family members is very important to the treatment process. Visits from family motivate and inspire youth to participate in programming and meet the goals of his treatment plan, which may result in an earlier release date. Visitation times have been set by each facility. Special visits and videoconferences due to transportation or other issues can be arranged through the facility or regional office.

Youth in secure care create a visitor list with help from his case manager or counselor. To ensure safety at the visitation, potential visitors must provide basic information and submit to a criminal history check and be granted visitation rights prior to visiting youth. More information on this process can be obtained from secure care facilities.

OJJ’s Policy C.2.8 Youth Visitation in Secure Facilities provides information on visitation for families. Approved visitors may include a spouse, parent, guardian, custodian of the youth, grandparent, sister/brother (includes step-siblings and half-siblings), biological child or any member of the immediate family. A youth may have only 3 visitors at a time; infants are included as a visitor. Siblings and biological children under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult on the approved visiting list. Permission to visit may be denied to any individual and visitation suspended in the event of an emergency at the facility

There are some general rules applicable to all visitors when visiting a secure facility. If a visitor has not received a copy of these rules/procedures prior to visiting a copy should be requested from a facility employee and reviewed prior to entering onto the facility grounds to visit a youth.

1. A Picture Identification is required for ALL visitors 14 years of age and older.
2. Visitors should arrive at least 15 minutes in advance of the visiting schedule to allow for processing by Security and Case Management.
3. Must be dressed appropriately per the information provided by the facility in the parent information packet.
4. Park in the designated visitors’ parking area.
5. Leave all belongings in the car except for the visitor’s picture identification and the car key/remote to unlock the car.
6. Lock the vehicle after parking.
7. Report to the Visitors’ Entrance.
8. Visitors will provide OJJ staff with picture identification and the name of the youth being visited.
9. OJJ staff will record the visit in accordance with the rules and procedures set forth by the facility’s administration.
10. Visitors will then be escorted to the designated area to receive a pat-down search.
11. Proceed to the visitation area.

CONTRABAND

VISITORS WHO VIOLATE THE FOLLOWING RULES REGARDING CONTRABAND MAY BE PROSECUTED UNDER LA. R.S. 14:402 OF THE LOUISIANA CRIMINAL CODE.

Possession of Contraband is not allowed. A visitor to a secure facility shall not introduce or possess the following on facility grounds: unauthorized currency or cash, food, toiletries or clothing not authorized by the Facility Director, intoxicating liquors, tobacco products, weapons, drug paraphernalia, pornographic material, explosives, unauthorized telecommunications equipment, electronics, tape recorders, cameras or camcorders and substances defined in the Uniform Control Dangerous Substance Law.

Visitors are not allowed to give money directly to youth during visitation. Money for a youth must be given to a designated OJJ facility staff to be recorded and processed. OJJ staff will process the money into the youth’s personal account. Money is not to exceed $100.00. Money orders are not accepted during visitation.

ATTORNEY VISITS

Youth shall be provided reasonable and confidential access to their attorneys and/or authorized legal representatives. Procedures for setting up such visits are outlined in C.1.4 Attorney Visits.