Warden: Lynn Cooper

 

 

 

Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Avoyelles 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.

Goals and Priorities

Driving Directions

Avoyelles Correctional Center is located on Highway 107 in Cottonport, Louisiana, which is approximately thirty miles south of Alexandria, Louisiana (via Highway 1). The nearest public transportation service is Greyhound Bus Lines (318-445-4525), which is located in Alexandria. The bus service makes one stop daily from Alexandria, on Highway 71 in Bunkie, which is approximately twelve miles from Cottonport. For transportation to the facility, Avoyelles Taxi Service (318-253-4862) is also available.

From Alexandria: take Highway 1 South approximately thirty miles to Marksville. Continue down Highway 1 to Mansura exit. At light, turn right on Highway 107. Go into the town of Mansura and follow instructions in next paragraph from Mansura.

From Baton Rouge: take Highway 190 West. Turn RIGHT at New Roads/Marksville Exit. Go to New Roads, and turn left at the first light (by hospital & shopping center). Go to the end of the road, and turn left on Highway 1. Go approximately forty miles to Mansura. Turn left by Catfish House & Avoyelles Tire Center, onto Highway 107. Go into Mansura, cross tracks and turn right at Kelone's Grocery. Go one block, and turn left to Cottonport, on Highway 107. Go five to six miles in Cottonport and go to the Cotton Corner Shell Station. Turn left, and go one mile and watch for a green sign on the right (Avoy. Correctional Center-State Prison). Turn left, on PRISON ROAD and go one mile to the Front gate of the prison facility.

From Lafayette: take Interstate I-49, and exit on Highway 106 to Bunkie (1st Bunkie Exit). Take a right at the end of road, then go to end of road and turn left on La. 29. Follow La. 29 into Bunkie, passing in front of school. Go to caution light/stop light and take a left. Go to light. At traffic light, cross tracks, following signs to Highway 29-Evergreen then Cottonport-approximately 10 miles. THEN FOLLOW DIRECTIONS FROM FUNERAL HOME BELOW.

You may go to Bunkie (via Highway 71). Turn East on Highway 29 to Evergreen, then on to Cottonport. Once in Cottonport, go pass Escude Funeral Home and Catholic Church. Go to third station on right; turn right (Cotton Corner Shell Station). This is Chouipque Lane - go one mile, and watch for a green sign on right (AVOY. CORRECTIONAL CENTER - STATE PRISON). Turn left at sign, (on Prison Rd) three-fourths to a mile to the front gate of the prison facility. When you turn left, you will notice apartments on your right called, Cottonwood Apartment (Dark brown building with brick).

Visiting Information

All persons interested in visiting offenders at Avoyelles Correctional Center should carefully read the listed guidelines below that govern the visiting process. All visitors are bound by these regulations. Visiting questions should be directed to the Visiting Department, Avoyelles Correctional Center, 1630 Prison Road, Cottonport, LA  71327.  Contact Phone number is 318-876-2891. Departmental and/or institutional guidelines will be used for approval or denial of visitors. Persons receiving and/or filling out this questionnaire should bear in mind the following:

The following is a list of other rules, regulations and general concerns which affect visitors while at Avoyelles Correctional Center:

1. Regular visiting days are Saturday and Sunday.
2. Visiting hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on all regular visiting days. Arrivals must be scheduled prior to 2:30 p.m.
3. Each approved visitor is allowed two visits per month.
4. 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.
5. Visits may last three hours. However, the Warden retains the right to determine the amount of time that a visitor may visit the offender.
6. The Warden may decide on the number of visitors that may visit an offender at one time. At Avoyelles Correctional Center, offenders may visit with only four visitors at any one time. This includes both children and adults.
7. If you are approved to visit at Avoyelles Correctional Center, you will be required to furnish positive identification each time you visit. All visitors (except minors under seventeen) 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.
8. When visiting an offender, visitors are not allowed to give anything to the offender. Introduction of contraband into the institution may result in removal from the visiting room and possible prosecution by the courts. (Any controlled dangerous substance, unless prescribed in original container, illegal drugs, any 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).
9. 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. 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.
10. Visitors may deposit up to $500.00 (money orders only) in an offender's account while visiting. A cashier is on duty. The visitor will receive a receipt.
11. Intoxication, improper dress, misconduct, and loud or boisterous noises 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.
12. All visitors entering AVC must be dressed appropriately. See-through clothing, or any form of seductive garments, which may include miniskirts, split skirts, midriffs, halter-tops, tank tops, or any extremely tight or revealing clothing, is not allowed. Camouflage clothing, blue chambray shirts, and gray or white sweatshirts are not allowed. Male visitors are not allowed to wear t-shirts in combination with blue jeans. Dress type shorts, culottes and shorts are allowed provided that they are knee length and the appearance is acceptable, i.e. no cutoffs, excessively tight or short items. Female visitors must wear bras.
13. 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 shal result in the denial of visits:
    • Clothing that is similar in appearance to the clothing worn by the unit's offender population (i.e. 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 (i.e. camouflage, blue BDU's, etc.)
    • Transparent clothing
    • Swimming suits
    • Skirts, shorts, skorts, cullotes, 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
    • Blouses, shirts and dresses that are low cut
    • 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 permissable.

14. Special Visits may be approved by the Warden on a case-by-case basis.  The offender must submit his Special Visit request in writing to the Classification Department.
15. 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 visitiation.
16. Those offenders assigned to extended lockdown and maximum custody offenders on non-contact visiting status are limited to visitation on Thursdays only.

An approved list of items, which may be received by offenders through the mail, has been published below by the Warden's Office.

1. Books, magazines, newspapers, etc. must be received by offenders directly from publishers and approved vendors.
2. Stamps are to be purchased in the Canteen only.  Stamps will not be received through the mail.
3. Money intended for deposit in an offender's account should be sent in the form of a postal money order within the United States made payable to the offender.  All such deposits must be mailed to: Cashier, Avoyelles Correctional Center, 1630 Prison Road, Cottonport, LA 71327. The offender's full name and DOC number must be written on the money order. Funds intended for deposit should not be placed in an envelope addressed to the offender. Cash and personal checks will not be accepted.

All offenders housed in Administrative Segregation, Extended Lockdown 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 (1) 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 (2) hours and will take place in the designated non-contact visiting rooms in the Visiting Building.

All visitors with disabilities will have readily accessible facilities and will be reasonably accommodated as appropriate and to the extent possible within the context of the department's fundamental mission to preserve the safety of the public, staff and offenders.  Advance notice of the accommodation requested will be necessary to ensure its availability at the time of the visit.

***THESE RULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.  PLEASE KEEP IN CONTACT WITH THE OFFENDER FOR FUTURE CHANGES.***

Educational Programs

All AVC offenders are eligible to benefit from educational services. AVC provides direct educational services to approximately 30% 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.

AVC offers Literacy, Adult Basic Education (ABE), General Equivalency Diploma (GED) and Special School District (SSD) services to the offender population.  Please visit the "Reentry Programming" section of the website to learn more about these programs.

Vocational Programs

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

Auto Collision Repair: This course teaches how to repair and paint automobile bodies and parts.

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

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

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

Developmental Studies:  This course is a remedial course in Language Arts and mathematics to target students who have not met requirements on the ASSET test to enter into a vocational program.

Diesel Engine Repair: This course teaches the mechanics of diesel engine vehicles.

Masonry: This course teaches the science of bricklaying within the residential and commercial settings and teaches the participant to bacome 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.  The 465-hour cirriculum allows the participant an opportunity to earn a Core Certificate upon completion.

Youth Offender Program:  This program is designed to offer course-work to first time offenders that meet certain criteria.  The offenders are able to take certain entry-level college courses to help them continue their education upon reentry to society.