Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 48 - PUBLIC HEALTH-GENERAL
Part I - General Administration
Subpart 3 - Licensing and Certification
Chapter 69 - Juvenile Detention Centers
Section I-6927 - Correspondence

A. Under no condition shall a child be denied mail from his/her parents or guardians, attorney, social worker, or other professional. Such incoming mail shall not be opened by any employee except in the presence of the child receiving the mail to determine the presence of contraband; nor shall the employee read such mail unless requested to do so by the child.

B. Children shall be provided writing materials and postage for purposes of correspondence to parents or guardians, attorney, probation officer, social worker, or other involved professionals, member of clergy, public officials, and jurisdictional judges. Such outgoing mail shall not be read or censored by an employee. Mail may be examined for contraband.

C. An opportunity to write letters as provided in Subsection B above, shall be provided on a reasonable basis.

D. Children should be allowed to send and receive personal correspondence from friends and relatives on a reasonable basis. This correspondence may be read by the detention administrator or his designee, but may not be withheld except for security reasons. The child shall be notified if outgoing mail is withheld and the reason. In any case, written policy and procedure shall require that incoming and outgoing mail shall not be held for more than 24 hours. Postage for personal correspondence may be provided by the detention center.

E. All cash sent to juveniles shall be retained for the juveniles and held for them in accordance with procedures of the facility.