LA DOC – David Wade Correctional Center (DWCC)

LA DOC – David Wade Correctional Center (DWCC) basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 318-927-0400

This facility is for adult inmates.

The inmates housed at Wade Correctional Center located at 670 Bell Hill Rd in Homer, LA are placed according to their custody level (determined by a number of factors including the past criminal history and the length of their sentence). There are ample educational and vocational training programs for all inmates, especially ones that show a willingness to learn new things that will prepare them for a better life when they are released. The mission is to promote and prepare the offender to leave in better shape than when they arrived, giving them the best chance to never come back and thus lower the state's recidivism rate.

David Wade Correctional Center is located in Homer Louisiana. It can house approximately 1,244 inmates of minimum, medium and maximum custody. Offenders are housed in various units depending on their security needs. The prison is comprised of four dormitories, a special management unit, a disciplinary unit, and a transitional dormitory. In order to maximize the potential of rehabilitating offenders, David Wade Correctional Center offers inmates the chance to earn an adult basic education and GED. In addition to academic courses, inmates can take a variety of vocational programs that teach the inmate a new skill. Certificates of technical Competency can be earned in carpentry, air conditioning and refrigeration, and welding. Medical and mental health services are also made available to inmates. Counseling is available and sometimes required for crisis intervention, parenting, substance abuse, anger management, and sex offender treatment.

Educational Programming

Educational programs offered at DWCC are in keeping with the Department’s mission of providing opportunities for offenders to enhance and obtain job skills sufficient to successfully reintegrate into society. DWCC partners with the Louisiana Technical College System and the Department of Education to provide the following variety of educational programs:

Adult Basic Education/HSE: Academic programs in Adult Basic Education (ABE) are available and include an instructional level for non-readers up to the fourth grade; pre-HSE, covering grade levels five through eight; and High School Equivalency (HSE) programs, covering grade nine through completion to attain a diploma.

Developmental Studies: Developmental studies provide educational programming for offenders who have completed their GED or HSE but failed to meet a sufficient score on the entrance test for admittance into a vocational program.

Special School District: The Special School District 1 Educational program provides for the search and identification of offenders up to age 25 who have been determined to have medical, emotional, and/or physical needs which could not be met in the regular classroom. Individual education plans (I.E.P.S.) are prepared to accommodate the offender’s special needs.

Vocational Education Programs: The Louisiana Technical College Northwest Campus administers the vocational educational programs offered at DWCC. Certificates in specialized programs include Technical Competency Areas (TCA), Certificate of Technical Studies (CTS), or the entire curriculum to earn a technical diploma in the following fields is available:

• Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
• Carpentry
• Welding

Other Programs and Services

Mental Health/Social Services

The DWCC Mental Health and Social Services Department provides a range of resources appropriate to the needs of the offender including individual and group counseling, family planning/counseling, parental education, and community services. All counseling services are administered by a qualified mental health professional. Specialized treatment programs include the following: Crisis Intervention, Sex Offender Treatment, Anger Management, Parenting, and Substance Abuse Counseling. A contract psychiatrist and a licensed psychologist conduct triage psychiatric clinics for offenders with identified and diagnosed psychological disorders. The Mental Health Department also completes aftercare referrals to appropriate agencies for offenders who discharge with mental health needs.

Medical

It is the mission of DWCC’s Medical Department to provide comprehensive health services for offenders. The department offers professional care and provides for a continuous systematic review of policy, procedure and practice to offer health services and education which will enhance the ability of the offender to successfully reintegrate into society upon release. Medical Services include:

• A Full Time Physician
• 24 Hour Nursing Coverage
• Infirmary for Convalescent & Chronic Care Offenders
• Dental Services
• Quality Assurance Program
• Infection Control
• Diagnostic Services including X-ray and Lab
• Emergency Services as needed
• Referral Services for Specialty Consultation
• Telemedicine Services
• Pharmaceutical Services
• Contract Optometrist
• Contract Psychiatrist

A secure prison ward is operated by DWCC at UHS in Monroe, LA. This is a joint effort between the Department of Corrections and UHS. DWCC provides security staff while UHS provides medical staff. Parish jail offenders from North Louisiana may be admitted to the ward provided space is available. State DOC offenders are given priority for bed space.

Reentry: DWCC’s Reentry initiatives provide assessment, identification and linkage for offenders with services specific to their reentry needs. Offenders begin preparing for release from the point of entry into the institution and through the development of Reentry Accountability Plans (ReAP). The offender also receives 100 hours of pre-release instruction which includes effective communication, victim awareness, anger management, problem-solving, values and goal setting, health and wellness, substance abuse treatment, budgeting and money management, family dynamics, employment skills, and information concerning conditions of Parole prior to release.

Faith-based Programming: Faith-based programming is an essential component in the overall mission of DWCC. Well trained religious volunteers offer a significant resource and are essential to the success in meeting the goal of providing a meaningful opportunity for change. Religious programming is coordinated by a full-time Chaplain. The DWCC Chaplaincy provides daily faith-based programming for the offender population. The services range from traditional worship to contemporary praise and worship services. Several programs incorporate study groups of various religious beliefs.

Records: The Records Office is responsible for all aspects involving the maintenance of records including offender time computation and re-computation on DPS&C commitments in accordance with state and federal laws as well as departmental regulations. The Records Office also maintains a Pre-Classification District inclusive of twenty-two parishes.

Classification: The Classification Department ensures that various aspects of incarceration related to public safety, rehabilitation, discipline, and welfare are met for offenders from the time of preliminary classification through until discharge. Classification operates within the Unit Management system and works closely with Security as well as other departments such as Mental Health, Medical and Education. The Classification program promotes the development of life, job and educational skills within the offender population and encourages participation in various self-help groups and organizations.

DWCC also serves as the Northeast Regional facility responsible for the guidance and oversight of DPS&C offenders housed in twenty-seven local jail facilities, twelve Transitional Work Programs and one Reentry Reentry Program (female).

Human Resources: The Human Resources Department manages all aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotion, position control, payroll, and related benefits. Staff achievement and recognition is a vital component in meeting the institution’s mission and goals.

Training: The DWCC Training Department is responsible for coordination of all preservice, in-service, and specialized training programs. Training curriculums are formulated based on position requirements, professional development needs, current correctional issues and new theories, techniques and technologies.

Community Service: DWCC provides staff and offenders for participation in Project Clean Up in the DOTD district that includes Union and Lincoln parishes. Additionally, offender work crews provide general maintenance services to the Town of Homer and Haynesville along with providing assistance during emergency and natural disaster situations. Canine Units assist local law enforcement agencies in the apprehension of criminal suspects, drug detection, and other related public safety issues.

visitation Info

LA DOC – David Wade Correctional Center – Visitation

DWCC recognizes the importance of visitation in the maintenance of an offender’s family ties. Visitation with family members is a vital aspect in the rehabilitation of an offender and is encouraged.

Visiting Days/Hours:

Regular visiting days are Saturday and Sunday only. Visiting hours are between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. However, incoming visitors will not be admitted between 11:00 am and 11:30 am. Also, no visits will be started after 3:00 pm. Only six (6) visitors will be allowed in the visiting room to visit an offender at any given time. There will be no visiting on a weekend in which the Sunday is the fifth Sunday of a month.

Visitor Approval:

Each offender must request that visitors be approved for his visiting list. The Visitation Department will advise the offender of approval or denial of the visitor. The offender is responsible for notification to his visitor of the final outcome. An approved visitor may visit two times each month. Visitors must be on the “approved visiting list” or have approval for a Special Visit in advance by the Warden or his designee. Special Visits must be requested by the offender.

Children who are fourteen and under do not need to be on the visiting list if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. Persons in this category may be requested to provide a birth certificate as verification. Visitors who are fifteen years of age and over must have picture identification in order to visit an offender. Visitors can deposit money in the account of the offender by using the JPAY kiosk located in the Visitor Processing Area.  Visitors are allowed to bring only the following items into the Visiting Room:

• Picture ID
• One car key or keyless device
• Change may be brought in but it must be in a see-through bag or small plastic container.
• Visitors with small children will be allowed to carry one diaper, one baby bottle or child’s cup, one pacifier, and/or baby wipes in a see-through bag (enough for one diaper change).

All other items must be left in your vehicle.

Dress Code for Visitors

Visitors should be aware that visiting areas are designed to cultivate a family friendly atmosphere and visitors should act and dress accordingly.  The following apparel is considered inappropriate and shall result in the denial of visits:

• Clothing that is similar in appearance to clothing worn by the offender population (blue chambray shirts and gray or white sweatshirts worn with blue jeans)
• Clothing that is similar in appearance to the clothing worn by correctional officers (camouflage, blue BDU’s)
• Transparent clothing
• Swim suits
• Skirts, shorts, skorts, culottes, and dresses shorter than one inch above the knee cap or with revealing slits
• Strapless tops, halter tops, tank tops and strapless dresses
• Tops that expose the midriff
• Low-cut shirts or dresses
• Spandex or lycra pants or leotards
• Clothing with revealing holes or tears above the knee
• Clothing or accessories with obscene or profane writing or images
• House slippers and shower shoes

Shoes designated for streetwear must be worn.

 

Driving Directions

From 1-20 West Exit # 67 (Highway 9 North) Take Highway 9 North to Highway 79 Turn right onto Highway 79 Take Highway 79 through Homer (around courthouse square stay on Highway 79 North) Just past intersection of state Highway 2 – take right onto Highway 520 Go eight miles on Highway 520- Turn left onto Bell Hill Rd. DWCC front gate is approximately ½ mile on left

From 1-20 East Exit # 49 Take a left and cross back over 1-20 onto Highway 532 North Turn right on Highway 79 towards Homer Take Highway 79 North though Homer (around courthouse square stay on Highway 79 North) Just past intersection of state Highway 2 take right onto Highway 520 Go eight miles on Highway 520 – Turn left onto Bell Hill Rd. DWCC front gate is approximately ½ mile on left