Prison Place

ISSION STATEMENT

The mission of B.B. "Sixty" Rayburn Correctional Center is to provide for the custody, control, care and treatment of each inmate through compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and procedures. Emphasis is placed on the implementation of programs that provide a public service and those designed to reintegrate the inmate into society while ensuring the safety of the public.

GOALS

Our goals are to provide effective programs while maintaining a secure facility; to maintain credibility with the public; to obtain the maximum benefit from our resources; to promote ongoing staff development; and to encourage better communication within the institution, and with other agencies and the community.

OBJECTIVES

To meet our goals, the following objectives will be met:

• To provide a secure facility;
• To provide staff and inmates with a safe work and living environment;
• To provide appropriate medical care to the inmate population;
• To provide the necessities of life to the inmate population;
• To provide the inmate population with programs that are conducive to their well-being and successful reentry into society;
• To comply with applicable legal and administrative requirements of the facility and staff.

GENERAL INFORMATION

B.B "Sixty" Rayburn Correctional Center is a medium security facility, housing a maximum capacity of 1,132 inmates. Generally, inmates must be eligible for release within 30 years.

Construction began on the facility in 1982, and it began receiving inmates in July of 1983. B.B. "Sixty" Rayburn Correctional Center successfully attained accreditation through the American Correctional Association (ACA) in 1993. Accreditation through this organization is an indication of a standard of professionalism that only a small percentage of similar correctional facilities have attained throughout the United States.

The facility encompasses 1025 acres, 45 of which are within the fenced compound. Most of the inmates are housed in four dormitories: Wind, Rain, Snow, and Sleet. The foremost three dorms have four units while Sleet has two. Each dormitory unit houses 66 inmates. In addition, Sleet has four cellblock tiers, used for administrative segregation, disciplinary detention/isolation, and extended lockdown. Sun, our fifth housing unit, is a maximum custody cellblock that houses up to 208 inmates. One tier is used for administrative segregation and disciplinary detention/isolation. The remaining tiers house “working cellblock” inmates.

All physically able inmates are assigned jobs throughout the compound, in the field, and on the trustee crews that work in the community. The inmate population provides most of the labor at B.B "Sixty" Rayburn Correctional Center.

B.B "Sixty" Rayburn Correctional Center is one of the largest employers in the parish, providing jobs for more than 400 employees, most of whom are lifetime residents of the surrounding area.

The operating budget for the facility is approximately $22.3 million. The cost per day for each inmate is approximately $54.04.

Inside the entrance to the Administration Building is the Control Center. The officers assigned to this area receive incoming telephone messages, maintain inmate counts, and monitor radio communications.

The Visiting Room is just past the interlocking gates, on the right in the “B” Building. Inmates are generally allowed the privilege of face-to-face visits with approved friends and relatives. Visiting is held Thursday through Sunday. Approved visitors may visit twice per month. Inmates may be restricted to “non-contact” visiting based on their institutional conduct and/or maximum custody status.

Besides regular visiting, minimum custody and select medium custody inmates are eligible for picnic visits during times of the year when weather permits. Minimum custody inmates receive their picnic visits at Kyle Park (named in memory of Kyle Donnelly, the son of former Warden Jack Donnelly), located just inside the Front Gate.

The offices for ranking correctional officers, the Chaplain, and mental health workers are also located in the “B” Building.

The Chaplain is responsible for the coordination of religious programs, offering adequate access for each inmate to practice his religion. The Chaplain recruits volunteers from the surrounding community to enhance the opportunities for religious practice. In addition, the Chaplain also responsible for the supervision of the Education Department.

The Mental Health Department is composed of five clinical social workers, a substance abuse coordinator and a part-time psychiatrist. Included in the functions of this department are pre-release groups, individual and group psychotherapy, self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, and the Employee Assistance Program.

Classification officers are responsible for managing inmate quarters, custody statuses, and job assignments. They coordinate Parole Board hearings held at this facility. Classification officers network with other departments at the time of an inmate’s discharge. Additionally, this department coordinates the orientation of recently arrived inmates. Their offices are located in the Education Building.

The Medical Department, housed in the Peter D. Mora, III, Infirmary (named in memory of a former Assistant Warden) on the left, offers comprehensive medical treatment services to inmates. Full-time nursing care and around the clock physician availability afford inmates access to adequate medical care. The Medical Department also provides x-ray, dental, eye care, and pharmaceutical services in-house.

Next, on the left, is the Cafeteria. It serves our inmates three hot meals per day (approximately 1.4 million meals per year.) Approximately 86 inmates assist with food preparation and provide janitorial services.

In addition to the Education and Vo-Tech Buildings, educational programs take place in the Cafeteria. Our educational program offers several educational and vocational avenues for inmates to pursue.

The literacy program involves qualified and trained inmates, under the supervision of a certified teacher, tutoring other inmates in reading and language skills, using phonics and other material, as well as basic math. The first three levels of Program One involve literacy, which is the foundation for subsequent phases of our program.

Levels four through eight of Program One are the next phase of our program, adult basic education. This primes the student for the full-day Pre-GED and GED preparation classes. A certified teacher works with inmate tutors on these levels, as well. The full-day classes comprise Program Two and are also tutor led under the supervision of a certified teacher.

Louisiana Technical College - Sullivan Campus offers certification in auto mechanics and welding. Adult Basic Education classes involve approximately 42 students preparing to receive a GED diploma.

A Youth Offender Grant (YOG) funded by the federal government offers other educational opportunities for our inmates. River Parish Community College offers an Associate Degree with concentrations in business or religion under the auspices of the YOG grant. Each class meets at night, once a week for three hours. A Saturday morning course in Small Engine Repair is also funded by YOG. Other classes may be added as funding permits.

The Gymnasium includes the office of the Recreation Director. The Gymnasium is used for athletic events, boxing team and band practice, religious meetings, and recreational craft work such as leather craft and wood working. Recreation programs are in place to reduce idle time for inmates after work hours and on weekends. Athletic events are planned and scheduled through the Recreation Director. Beside the Gymnasium, each housing unit also has recreation equipment and facilities. All recreation equipment and expenses are paid for with Inmate Welfare Funds, which are monies generated by the inmates, not the taxpayers.

Listed below are the organized athletic programs that inmates may participate in:

Flag Football (August through November)
Basketball (November through April)
Slow-Pitch Softball (April through July)
Volleyball (July through September)
Soccer (November through March)
Boxing (year round)

Inmate sports teams often meet to compete with teams from other department facilities. In addition, the inmate band, Louisiana Shakedown, performs at various community events and often entertains at local nursing homes.

Each February, the facility hosts the Terry Wood “King of Hearts” Memorial Boxing Tournament (named in honor of a former corrections lieutenant.) The tournament features teams from other department facilities and parish jails and is open to the public. Proceeds from the event are donated to different local youth charities.

The Automotive Service and Repair (AS&R) Building, outside the fenced compound, is the first building on the left after passing the Administration Building. Facility vehicles are repaired and maintained there by inmates under staff supervision. The facility also maintains a fire truck in this building for the facility’s volunteer fire department. The fire department is composed of employee volunteers and responds to fire emergencies within the facility and local community.

The Maintenance Building is the next building on the left. It houses the offices and workshops of the Maintenance Department. The Maintenance Department is responsible for the repair and preventative maintenance of facility buildings and equipment. It is staffed by journeyman craftsmen in the Electrical, Carpentry, Painting, Plumbing, Waste Water Treatment, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) trades. Each craft foreman supervises an inmate crew.

The Field Security Office is responsible for supervising the inmate workers that leave the fenced compound. Inmate crews are used for farming and grounds keeping operations at this facility. Additionally, inmate crews perform various community service projects that include landscaping and grounds keeping work for the City of Bogalusa; year round maintenance, repairs, and construction at the site of the Washington Parish Fair Grounds in the community of Franklinton; preparation for the annual Christmas lighting display in Bogalusa’s Cassidy Park; and site preparations for the local chapter Camp Fire Boys and Girls summer camp.

The Field Security Office also coordinates with the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) to provide three 10-man inmate crews that pickup litter and trash along highways and roads in this and surrounding parishes.

As a community service, this facility contributes correctional staff for local security needs in times of natural disaster and emergencies. As a member of the state and local Emergency Management Team, this facility may be required to provide food, shelter, and other services for victims of such events.

The facility maintains an Emergency Response Team composed of specially selected and trained correctional officers. The ERT’s primary function is to respond to and quell emergency disturbances (i.e., riots, hostage situations) within this and other department facilities. They are also utilized to provide support to local law enforcement agencies in serving warrants, local jail searches, and crowd control during such events as Mardi Gras and the Washington Parish Fair.

The facility maintains a K-9 team of trained staff and dogs. The team is housed in buildings located to the rear of the main compound. The K-9 officers raise, train, and care for the dogs in kennels located at the K-9 Center. The dogs are trained and used for tracking, narcotics detection, and crowd control. The K-9 team is often called to assist in searches of local jails and schools for contraband, and searches for lost children and fleeing criminal suspects.

The facility’s Training Center is located to the rear of the facility grounds, adjacent to the Dale Ravencraft Firing Range (named in memory of a former correctional officer.) New correctional officers and employees receive their initial training there. The Training Department staff also conducts in-service training throughout the year for all staff members. Training topics include self-defense, supervision of inmates, searches, first-aid/CPR, suicide prevention, firearms, and many more. The Training Academy was awarded accreditation by the American Correctional Association in January 2004. It is one of only two training academies in the state that have achieved this honor.

We welcome the opportunity to display our facility in an effort to better assist the public in understanding our mission.

VISITOR CODE OF CONDUCT AND GENERAL INFORMATION

September 29, 2004

Individuals approved to visit inmates at B.B. "Sixty" Rayburn Correctional Center should carefully read the below listed rules and regulations that govern visiting. Visitors are expected to comply with these requirements.

Approved visitors (15 years of age and older) must present picture identification to visit an inmate.

Visitors must be dressed appropriately. No tank tops, see-through clothing, low-cut articles of clothing exposing the upper torso, miniskirts or mini-dresses, or any form of seductive garments will be allowed. Shorts, skorts, and culottes must be no more than three inches above the knee. Visitors must wear full length shirts (long or short-sleeve). They will not be allowed to wear the combination of blue jeans and blue chambray shirts, or blue jeans and gray or white sweat shirts or tee shirts. Shoes designated for street wear, including tennis shoes, must be worn. Sandals and open-toed shoes are permitted. House slippers, beach sandals (i.e., thongs, flip-flops) and shower shoes are not permitted. Individuals improperly or inappropriately dressed will not be allowed to visit.

Facilities are not available for visitors who do not meet this dress code to change their clothing. Visitors who choose to change their clothing in order to be able to visit, will be required to leave institutional grounds. They may then return when they have changed their clothing.

Visitors must declare all medications, including prescription and nonprescription medications, to the correctional officers at the Front Gate and visiting desk. Alcohol, cameras, and any type of weapon or ammunition are prohibited on facility grounds. Such items should not be brought to the facility, however, in the event contraband items are in the visitor’s possession, they must be declared at the Front Gate. Visitors under the influence of any substance will not be allowed to visit and may be prohibited from future visits.

Visitors are limited to carrying no more than $25 into the fenced compound and/or picnic visiting area. They should bring sufficient change for the vending machines as the staff is not permitted to make change. Inmates are not allowed to handle money.

The amount of money that a visitor can deposit to an inmate’s account is limited to $150. Such deposits must be in the form of cash, money order, or cashier’s checks. Deposits must be made at the registration desk in the A-Building lobby before beginning the visit. Those visitors who plan to have photographs made during their visit, must also pay for them at the registration desk before the visit. Visitors will not be permitted to make a deposit into an inmate’s account at any other time.

Visitors are not allowed to deliver anything to the inmate through the Visiting Room. Visitors may bring photographs (no Polaroid or photo albums), however, they cannot be left with the inmate.

Actions or language by a visitor considered loud, disruptive, abusive, or threatening will not be tolerated. Such conduct will result in the immediate termination of the visit and possible denial of future visits.

Violations of applicable laws and/or institutional rules by an inmate and/or visitor(s) may result in termination of the visit, the visitor’s removal from the inmate’s visitor list, disciplinary action against the inmate, and criminal prosecution against both parties.

Individuals who have been refused a visit will be required to leave the institutional grounds. Individuals traveling with visitors, but not visiting, must wait in their vehicle. Other than the designated visitor areas, neither visitors nor their traveling companions are allowed access to the facility beyond the visitors’ parking lot. They are also prohibited from talking, shouting, signaling, or passing anything to an inmate.

Individuals, including minors, entering the facility are subject to searches of their property, automobile, and person.

Visiting hours are between 11:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m., Thursday, and 8:00 a.m. and 3:45 p.m., Friday through Sunday. Visitors must arrive at the facility’s Front Gate by 2:00 p.m. in order to be processed for visiting.

Inmates will not be permitted to visit while on extra duty assignments. The inmate will be notified, however, on the Wednesday preceding his extra duty assignment so that he may notify his visitors of such.

Inmates will be allowed six visitors at a time in the Visiting Room. Non-walking infants will be allowed as a seventh visitor. Approved visitors will generally be allotted two visits per month. Minimum custody inmates and inmates participating in the Inmate Recognition Program (IRP) will be permitted three visits per month from their visitors. Unless prior approval is obtained from the Warden, visitors are allowed to visit only one inmate at a time.

Generally, visits will be for two and one-half hours Thursday and Friday; and one and one-half hours Saturday and Sunday. Minimum custody and IRP inmates will be permitted visits for three hours. In case of overcrowding, these times may be shortened at the staff’s discretion.

Individuals under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult who is an approved visitor of the inmate that the minor is visiting. Children 14 years of age and younger are not required to be on the inmate’s visitor list. The correctional officers may require that proof of a child’s age (birth certificate) be furnished on their next visit, if his/her age appears questionable. Adults will be responsible for the behavior of minors in their company. Children will not be left unattended on institutional grounds. Minor spouses or emancipated minors (Marriage Certificate/Judgment of Emancipation required as proof) are not required to have adult escorts.

Visitors are allowed to bring into the visiting areas two baby bottles per infant, three diapers and sufficient baby-wipes per infant, and a change purse/wallet.

Visitors may greet and bid the inmate farewell with a non-passionate kiss and must be so as not to offend others. Visitors may sit next to the inmate, however, physical contact between the inmate and adult visitors, other than holding hands, is not allowed.

Individuals approved for picnic visits should contact the Visiting Office for information on approved items.

Special Management Unit inmates; Extended Lockdown inmates; inmates who test positive for and/or are found in possession of drugs; inmates who refuse to submit to drug testing; inmates who have received contraband during the visiting process; and inmates who have had a certified drug dog alert to the presence of drugs on their person or property in a drug detection booth, will be restricted to non-contact visiting. The requirements for such visits are as follow:

Visiting hours are between 8:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., Thursday. Visitors must arrive at the facility’s Front Gate by 10:30 a.m. in order to be processed for visiting.

Inmates will be allowed one visit per day with up to four adult visitors (only two visitors for SMU inmates.) Visits will take place in the Visiting Room. Approved visitors will be allotted two visits per month. Visitors are allowed to visit only one inmate at a time. Visits will be limited to 45 minutes. In case of overcrowding, visits may be shortened at the staff’s discretion.

Inmates and their visitors will not be permitted to make any physical contact during their visits. No concessions will be sold during restricted visitation.