Warden: Steve Rader

 

 

Dixon Correctional Institute is located in East Feliciana Parish, opened in 1976 and was the first medium security satellite prison in Louisiana. In 1993, DCI was accredited by the American Correctional Association and has maintained its accreditation since then. DCI is a multi-level security institution, with a maximum capacity of 1,586 offenders. The main compound is located approximately 30 miles north of Baton Rouge and encompasses 1,549 acres of pasture, 428 acres of timber, and approximately 450 acres reserved for crops in and around Jackson, Louisiana. DCI employs a workforce of approximately 540 employees with a general operating budget of $39 million.

Mission Statement

It is the mission of Corrections Services and Dixon Correctional Institute to provide for custody, care, control and treatment of adjudicated offenders through enforcement of laws and management of programs designed to ensure the safety of the public, staff, and offenders and reintegrate offenders into society.

46% of DCI's population is comprised of violent offenders. The average length of sentence is 17.5 years.

43% of DCI offenders are between 30-44 years of age.

Driving Directions

 Dixon Correctional Institute is located approximately 30 miles north of Baton Rouge.  Directions to DCI from Baton Rouge:

• From downtown, take I-110 North for approximately 8 miles
• Merge onto U.S. Highway 61 North via exit 8B toward Natchez and travel 12.3 miles
• Turn right onto Louisiana Hwy. 68 and travel 9.6 miles
• A white picket fence borders the grounds of DCI
• Turn left at DCI's main entrance

Visiting Information

When a visitor arrives at the prison they are to park in the front parking lot located in front of the Visiting Processing Center outside the prison gate. Anyone not visiting must leave the prison grounds. THERE WILL BE NO LOITERING IN THE PARKING LOT OR ON THE GROUNDS.

Facilities are available for handicapped persons and, if needed, the prison will provide transportation from the Visiting Processing Center to the sallyports for visiting.

An approved visitor is required to furnish positive picture identification each time they visit. This requirement must be met by anyone 15 years of age or older. If any approved visitor (one who is on an offender's visiting list) cannot furnish positive photo identification, the Security Shift Supervisor or Duty Officer may approve entrance into the Visiting Room provided that some other means of positive identification is met.

Visitors are allowed to bring only the following items into the Visiting Room:

SEARCHES OF VISITORS: ALL VISITORS ARE SUBJECT TO SEARCH.

Introduction of contraband, drugs, alcohol, or weapons into the prison is a felony for which you will be prosecuted under L.R.S. 14:402. Refusal to submit to search will result in denial of visit.

Any individual (including minors) entering any Department of Public Safety and Corrections prison is subject to searches of their property, automobile, and person. Searches include, but are not limited to, visual inspection of person or property, electronic searches of persons for narcotics, pat-down searches of your person, inspection of person or property by dogs trained to detect drugs, weapons and other contraband, strip searches of your body, and searches of your body cavities.

A visitor who is discovered introducing contraband into DCI will be subject to indefinite suspension of visiting privileges and being criminally charged. Offender visitors will not be allowed to bring weapons onto institution grounds including all parking lots. A visitor will not be permitted into this institution when the odor or effects of alcoholic beverage are present.

VISITOR DRESS CODE:

A. Visitors shall be properly dressed. Individuals are considered improperly dressed when attired in any of the following:

• cut-off pants
• halter tops, tank tops, and sleeveless shirts of any type.
• low-cut articles of clothing exposing the upper torso
• see-through clothing
• mini skirts
• blue chambray shirts
• blue jean overalls
• gray or white sweatshirts
• Shorts less than (3) inches above the knee (females only)
• Camouflage clothing
• No T-shirts - may be worn: A T-shirt is defined as a shirt without a collar or buttons with the following exceptions. Visitors under the age of 15 may be allowed to wear T-shirts that are not revealing or containing logos which are sexual or racial.
• Males in shorts

B. Female visitors may wear culottes and skorts; however, they must be no shorter than 3" above the knee. No form of seductive garment shall be allowed, and appropriate undergarments (bra and panties) must be worn. If a dress is "see-through" a slip must be worn.

C. Male and female visitors will be allowed to wear blue jeans.

Educational/Vocational Opportunities

DCI provides the opportunity for participation in educational and vocational classes. These include:

• ABE/GED
• Literacy
• Communication Electronics
• Collision Repair
• Carpentry
• Welding
• y Arts
• SSD#1 (Special School District)
• College courses (correspondence)

Our vocational programs are provided through a cooperative effort with Louisiana Technical College - Folkes Campus. 

Programming

Substance Abuse Program

The purpose of the Substance Abuse Program is to provide substance abuse education to those offenders identified with having a substance abuse history. In order to provide opportunities for involvement by all offenders, DCI uses a combination of classroom/group activities and self-help meetings.

Pre-Release Programming

It is the philosophy of the DCI Administration that discharge planning begins at admission and continues throughout the period of incarceration. There are a variety of opportunities available for self-improvement. La. R.S. 15:827.1 mandates 100 hours of pre-release training prior to being released. Participation is mandatory by law for all offenders releasing from prison. In addition to completing the 100 hours of training, a reentry team also works closely with each offender to ensure they have two forms of identification prior to their scheduled release date. The reentry team also works with local employers to place offenders in jobs and temporary housing situations.

Reentry Programming

Reentry programming enhances preparation for an offender's release and begins when they enter the state correctional system. The offenders are encouraged to learn marketable skills, develop new behaviors, and address deficiencies, act responsibly and plan for a positive future. Incarcerated offenders will receive intensified preparation in the twelve to eighteen months before their release.

Youthful Offender Program

This program is designed to provide an environment where youthful offenders can develop self-esteem, self-discipline and positive attitudes along with the cognitive skills necessary to re-enter society and be successful. The program provides tailored case management plans to meet the specific needs of each youthful offender as well as to create or repair family relationships. Youthful offenders must be 19 years of age or younger to participate in the program. They must also have five years or less to their earliest release date. Youthful offenders 16 years of age or younger will participate in the program regardless of sentence length. The program is based on voluntary enrollment and will last for a minimum of 12 months.

Faith and Character Based Program (FCBD)

The FCBD Program is offered to offenders at Dixon Correctional Institute to facilitate institutional adjustment, rehabilitation, reintegration into the community, reduction of recidivism, and offer a full range of religious accommodations. Participation is voluntary and the opportunity to participate is available to all eligible offenders. Additionally, in cooperation with other reentry programs, is an essential component in preparing the offender for release.

Religious and Volunteer Programs

The following faith groups have services and faith group studies: Protestants, Catholics, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Muslims, Institute of Divine Metaphysical Research and WICCA. Chaplains, chaplains assistants and volunteers of the appropriate faith group conduct services and faith group studies. Chaplains assistants and volunteers teach discipleship groups and intensive biblical studies.

Offender Organizations

• Incarcerated Veterans
• Jaycees
• Athletic Booster Club
• Toastmasters

 

Miscellaneous Services/Information

Medical Services

The Medical Department delivers inpatient, outpatient and emergency health care services for offenders on a 24-hour seven day a week basis. The Medical Department at DCI is unique in that it provides the care and treatment for all dialysis patients in the department.

Mental Health

Services provided by the Mental Health Department include crisis intervention, individual counseling, sex offender therapy, anger management, special topics groups, character counts, case management for youthful offenders, aftercare referrals to appropriate agencies and assisting offenders with housing after release.

Recreational Activities

Recreational activities are structured to accommodate offenders of all ages and physical condition. We offer a variety of outdoor as well as indoor recreational activities. These activities include basketball, football, softball, volleyball, weight lifting, boxing, pool, and various board games. The Athletic Director has established an Athletic Booster Club.

DCI Employee Activity Committee

The DCI Employee Activity Fund was established to enhance motivation and morale among employees.  The DCI Employee Activity Committee is an independent organization open to all employees.  Members receive flowers upon hospitalization or the death of a family member, a gift at retirement, and are also eligible to win one of two $200 bank money cards drawn quarterly.

Training

The DCI Training Department is responsible for orientation and in service training of all new hires. In addition, the Training Department has its own training academy responsible for effectively training all new correctional officers in DCI policies and procedures prior to independent assignment to their job.

Agricultural Programs

DCI serves as the center for replacement heifers for all DPS&C facilities, as well as the center for receiving new breeding bulls. Crops grown at DCI include corn and rye grass. These crops are used to feed the heifers.

DCI also has an orchard consisting of fig trees, mayhaw trees, pecan trees, blueberry bushes, blackberry bushes, and muscadine vines. In addition, DCI maintains a twenty-two acre vegetable garden consisting of peppers, beans, peas, cucumbers, okra, potatoes, and watermelon.

Industrial Operations

DCI’s industrial operations consist of Prison Enterprises' operations which include the Wakefield Meat Processing Distribution Plant and Warehouse, a meat processing distribution plant, the janitorial service program which provides services for state buildings in Baton Rouge, Prison Enterprises embroidery operation and an office seating assembly plant.

Community Service

Offender work crews are assigned for general maintenance service to the City of Zachary, Town of Jackson, Village of Norwood, and the parishes of Livingston and East Baton Rouge. In addition, offender crews assist during emergency situations or natural disasters.

Offender work crews provide labor to local schools and state agencies. DCI supplies offender crews to pick up litter along approximately 400 miles of state and interstate highways in south Louisiana.

Community Involvement

All interested individuals and community groups or organizations are encouraged to participate with DCI in the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs. Special emphasis will be made to coordinate with law enforcement agencies and courts.

Offender Locator Hotline

Now, anyone needing information on an offender (more than 100,000) assigned to the Department's custody/supervision can simply call (225) 383-4580 to access the Offender Locator System, which will give the caller the offender's housing assignment, address of the facility where he or she is assigned (160 locations), a contact phone number and a projected release date (if applicable).  A caller must know the offender's DOC number or the offender's name and date of birth to access information.  The caller must also use a touch tone phone or cell phone and can call from anywhere.