There are six federal prisons in Louisiana, all run by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and organized into two complexes: three units at the Federal Correctional Complex in Pollock and three at the Federal Correctional Complex in Oakdale. Together they cover four security levels, from minimum-security satellite camps to a high-security penitentiary. All six report to the BOP’s South Central Regional Office in Grand Prairie, Texas.1Federal Bureau of Prisons. South Central Regional Office
The Six Federal Facilities at a Glance
The Pollock complex sits in Grant Parish in central Louisiana. It houses:
- USP Pollock, a high-security United States Penitentiary for male inmates.
- FCI Pollock, a medium-security Federal Correctional Institution for male inmates.
- Pollock Satellite Camp, a minimum-security camp adjacent to FCI Pollock.
The Oakdale complex is in Allen Parish in southwest Louisiana. It houses:
- FCI Oakdale I, a low-security Federal Correctional Institution for male inmates.
- FCI Oakdale II, a low-security Federal Correctional Institution for male inmates.
- Oakdale II Satellite Camp, a minimum-security camp adjacent to FCI Oakdale II.
The Oakdale complex historically included a Federal Detention Center for pretrial and immigration detainees, but FDC Oakdale no longer appears on the BOP’s active facility listings. The current BOP page for FCI Oakdale I lists only FCI Oakdale II as the other facility at the complex.2Federal Bureau of Prisons. FCI Oakdale I
Federal Correctional Complex Pollock
The Pollock complex is unusual because it spans the full security spectrum on one footprint. Most federal complexes in the region cover two or three levels; Pollock runs from a minimum-security camp all the way to a high-security penitentiary, so an inmate’s classification score determines which of the three units they land in without leaving the same general area.
USP Pollock is built for inmates who pose the greatest security risk. It features reinforced perimeters, single- and double-occupancy cells, the highest staff-to-inmate ratio in the federal system, and tightly controlled movement throughout the day. FCI Pollock is the medium-security institution next door, with cell-type housing, double fencing with electronic detection, and a wider range of work assignments and treatment programs.3Federal Bureau of Prisons. FCI Pollock The satellite camp houses low-risk inmates who typically serve shorter sentences for nonviolent offenses, and camp residents often handle facility maintenance and groundskeeping.
The Residential Drug Abuse Program is available across the complex. Federal law allows the BOP director to grant RDAP graduates serving time for nonviolent offenses up to 12 months of early release.4Federal Bureau of Prisons. Early Release Procedures Under 18 USC 3621(e)
Federal Correctional Complex Oakdale
FCI Oakdale I and FCI Oakdale II are both low-security institutions. They use double-fenced perimeters, dormitory or cubicle-style housing, and emphasize work and program participation. Low-security facilities generally have a higher staff-to-inmate ratio than minimum-security camps but less restrictive movement controls than medium-security institutions.5Federal Bureau of Prisons. Federal Prisons The Oakdale II satellite camp provides minimum-security housing for inmates nearing the end of their sentences or those with the lowest risk scores.
Oakdale’s population is substantial. Recent BOP statistics show FCI Oakdale I holding roughly 999 inmates and FCI Oakdale II holding about 1,027, with another 122 inmates at the Oakdale II satellite camp.6Federal Bureau of Prisons. Population Statistics Vocational training is a core part of programming at both low-security institutions.
What the Security Levels Mean
The BOP classifies every federal prison into one of five categories: minimum, low, medium, high, and administrative. Louisiana’s facilities cover four of the five.
- Minimum security (camps): dormitory housing, low staff-to-inmate ratio, and limited or no perimeter fencing. The satellite camps at Pollock and Oakdale sit here.
- Low security: double-fenced perimeters, mostly dormitory or cubicle housing, and strong work and program components. FCI Oakdale I and FCI Oakdale II operate at this level.
- Medium security: strengthened perimeters with double fences and electronic detection, cell-type housing, and a higher staff-to-inmate ratio. FCI Pollock is the state’s only medium-security institution.
- High security: highly secured perimeters with walls or reinforced fences, single- and multiple-occupancy cells, the highest staff-to-inmate ratio, and close control of all inmate movement. USP Pollock is Louisiana’s only high-security prison.
Placement is based on a custody classification scoring system that weighs the severity of the offense, criminal history, escape history, and history of violence, among other factors.5Federal Bureau of Prisons. Federal Prisons A higher score means a more restrictive placement. Inmates can be reclassified over time, so someone who starts at medium security and keeps a clean disciplinary record could eventually move down to low security or a camp.
Does a Louisiana Sentence Mean Louisiana Time?
Being sentenced in a Louisiana federal court does not automatically mean serving the sentence in Louisiana. Under 18 U.S.C. ยง 3621, the BOP has sole authority to designate where a prisoner serves their time. The statute requires the BOP to place inmates as close as practicable to their primary residence, and ideally within 500 driving miles, but bed availability, security score, medical and mental health needs, program requirements, and any recommendations from the sentencing judge can override that preference.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. United States Code Title 18 Section 3621
The First Step Act strengthened the 500-mile proximity rule. The BOP must now consider transferring inmates closer to home even when they are already within that radius, subject to the same security and programming considerations.8Federal Bureau of Prisons. An Overview of the First Step Act – Section: Confinement Louisiana inmates with low or medium security scores and no special medical needs have a reasonable chance of being placed at Pollock or Oakdale, but it is never guaranteed.
Finding an Inmate
The BOP runs a free online inmate locator that covers every federal facility, including all six Louisiana units. You can search by name or by number, meaning BOP register number, FBI number, DCDC number, or INS number. A name search requires the person’s first and last name and can be narrowed by race, age, and sex.9Federal Bureau of Prisons. Inmate Locator
The register number format is five digits, a hyphen, then three digits, for example 12345-078. If you have that number, searching by it is faster and more reliable than a name search, especially for common names. The results show the inmate’s current facility, which tells you whether they are at Pollock, Oakdale, or housed elsewhere in the country.
Visiting an Inmate
Before you can visit, the inmate has to send you a Visitor Information Form (BP-A0629). You fill it out with your legal name, contact information, Social Security or passport number, your relationship to the inmate, and any criminal history. The BOP runs a background check before adding you to the approved visitor list. Immediate family members, other relatives, and close friends can all apply, though non-family visitors may face additional scrutiny at higher-security facilities.
Visiting hours are generally available on weekends and holidays, and sometimes during the week, but each facility sets its own schedule. Some institutions limit each inmate to visiting on either Saturday or Sunday, not both. Check the specific facility’s page on bop.gov before you make the trip.10Federal Bureau of Prisons. How to Visit a Federal Inmate
Dress code catches visitors off guard. Revealing clothing, sleeveless tops, shorts, miniskirts, and anything resembling inmate khaki or green military-style clothing will get you turned away at the door. The general standard is clothing appropriate for a large mixed gathering of adults and children, and each institution can impose additional restrictions on top of the BOP’s baseline rules.
Phone, Email, and Money
Federal inmates make phone calls on a monitored system. Inmates participating in First Step Act programming, or on the waitlist for it, receive 300 free phone minutes per month.11Federal Bureau of Prisons. FBOP Updates to Phone Call Policies and Time Credit System All calls except attorney-client communications can be recorded and monitored.
For written electronic messages, the BOP uses TRULINCS, which connects to an outside platform called CorrLinks. Inmates do not have internet access. They type messages on a monitored terminal, and those messages are delivered to the recipient’s CorrLinks account rather than a regular email inbox. Inmates pay for the service out of their commissary balance; outside contacts are not charged to send or receive messages. Each inmate can have up to 30 active email contacts at a time.
The BOP authorizes three ways to deposit funds into an inmate’s commissary account: MoneyGram, Western Union, and U.S. mail. MoneyGram deposits are processed seven days a week, including holidays, and typically post within two to four hours when sent between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Eastern.12Federal Bureau of Prisons. Community Ties For MoneyGram, use the inmate’s eight-digit register number followed immediately by their last name as the account number, “Federal Bureau of Prisons” as the company name, “Washington, DC” as the city and state, and receive code 7932. Online MoneyGram transactions require a Visa or MasterCard and are capped at $300 per transaction. Inmates use commissary funds for hygiene products, snacks, stamps, over-the-counter medications, and email credits.
Medical Needs Can Override Geography
None of Louisiana’s six federal units is a dedicated Federal Medical Center. The BOP uses a four-level medical care classification to match inmates with facilities equipped for their health needs. Care Level 1 covers generally healthy inmates under 70 who need only routine checkups every 6 to 12 months. Care Level 2 applies to stable outpatients with chronic conditions that need regular monitoring. Care Levels 3 and 4 cover progressively more complex or intensive needs, and inmates at those levels may be housed at an FMC rather than a standard institution.13Federal Bureau of Prisons. Care Level Classification for Medical and Mental Health Conditions or Disabilities
If your loved one has significant medical needs, their care level classification will likely matter more than proximity in determining where they are housed. Someone who would otherwise qualify for Oakdale or Pollock based on security score and home address could end up at FMC Fort Worth or another specialized facility well outside Louisiana.