Louisiana Federal Prison Locations & Guides
If your loved one has been sentenced in the Eastern or Western District of Louisiana, they may be designated to one of the federal facilities below. Each guide covers security level, location, visitation basics, and how to stay in contact.
Educational information only. For designation questions, contact the Federal Bureau of Prisons or a federal defense attorney.
FCI Oakdale (I & II)
Oakdale, LA · Low security (FCI Oakdale I) and Low security (FCI Oakdale II)
The Oakdale Federal Correctional Complex houses two low-security facilities and a detention center primarily holding male non-citizens pending immigration proceedings.
USP Pollock
Pollock, LA · High security (USP) with an adjacent minimum-security satellite camp
United States Penitentiary Pollock is a high-security facility for male inmates, part of the Federal Correctional Complex Pollock in central Louisiana.
FCI Pollock
Pollock, LA · Medium security with an adjacent minimum-security camp
Federal Correctional Institution Pollock is a medium-security facility on the same complex as USP Pollock, housing male inmates.
FDC New Orleans (Oakdale FDC)
Oakdale, LA · Administrative — all security levels; pretrial and holdover
The Federal Detention Center at Oakdale holds pretrial detainees and holdover inmates for the Eastern and Western Districts of Louisiana.
How federal designation works in Louisiana
After sentencing in a Louisiana federal court, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) — not the judge — decides which facility an inmate reports to. The BOP considers security level (based on sentence length and offense), medical needs, program needs, and the "500-mile rule" that tries to place inmates within 500 miles of their release residence. A judicial recommendation at sentencing can influence but not control designation.
Estimate a guideline range first
Sentence length is the biggest driver of which facility a defendant will be designated to. Use the sentencing estimator to see the likely federal guideline range for your case, then review the facility guides above.