Orleans Parish Temporary Detention Center

Orleans Parish Temporary Detention Center basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 504-822-8000

This facility is for adult inmates.

The Orleans Parish Temporary Detention Center is a medium-security detention center located at 3100 Perdido St in New Orleans, LA. This county jail is operated locally by the Orleans Parish County Sheriff's Office and holds inmates awaiting trial or sentencing. Most of the sentenced inmates are here for less than two years. Orleans Parish County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, municipalities, the US Marshal's Service and the New Orleans Police Department who do not have their own long-term lock-up.

There are new detainees delivered to the jail daily, you can see arrest records here. Some are released after putting up bail, are released to a pretrial services caseload, are placed under supervision by a probation agency, or are released on their own recognizance with an agreement to appear in court. If there is no release, the inmate must wait here at the jail for their court appearance as a guest of the County, getting a bed and three square meals.

Trustees are inmates who work in the jail as cooks, as orderlies for the staff, in the laundry or in the commissary. The trustees are paid a very small amount for their time and some jail gives the trustees a few days off their sentence in exchange for their work.

When an inmate arrives in jail they are put together in a large holding cell with other inmates in the intake. While in intake they are under heightened observation. Violent and out of control inmates are segregated.

Can I Get Work Release?

Work release is when you are released from jail during the day so that you can go to work. At the end of the day, you return to jail for the night. There are a number of requirements to be able to get into the work-release program. Most programs require your employer to fill out some paperwork. If you want to get into the work release program then apply prior to being sentenced to jail. This will minimize the amount of time you spend in jail waiting to get into the program.

Can I call my family in Jail?

Orleans Parish Temporary Detention Center has a phone program where inmates make outbound calls only, you cannot call into jail. Since you are paying for those calls don't make it a habit of accepting collect-calls, they are over $15 each. The alternative is to set up an account through their third-party phone company which charges steep fees for each minute used. You are paying for them to call you. Click here if you are going to speak a lot and need a discount on the calls.

Remember – These phone calls are recorded and conversations can be used against you or the inmate so do not discuss your case over these phone lines.

visitation Info

Orleans Parish Temporary Detention Center – Visitation

Regular Inmate Visiting Hours:

• All Visitors Are Required To Check In 30 Minutes Prior To Visit Schedule Time
• Visitors may visit only once per week and only once on the day of visitation

Orleans Justice Center (OJC):

Tuesday – Saturday

• 8:00am – 11:00am 
• 1:00pm – 5:00pm
• 8:00pm – 10:00pm 

General Visiting Regulations:

• Inmates are allowed up to three visitors with active status on their visitation list.

• Parents must keep their children with them at all times. Parents who are unwilling or unable to control their children will be asked to leave. There will be no exceptions.

• NO cameras, video equipment, or cell phones are allowed past the metal detectors or in the visiting room.

• No food or drink may be brought into the facility, other than a bottle for a small child.

• OPSO is a non-smoking facility. Tobacco products, matches, and lighters are not allowed past the metal detectors or in the visiting room.

• Valid, unexpired photo I.D. is required.

• The dress code requirements must be met by all visitors at all times.

• No one who appears to be intoxicated or under the influence of drugs will be allowed to visit or enter the facility lobby.

• Use of obscene language or disorderly behavior as determined by OPSO staff members will not be permitted..

Adhere To Visiting Regulations: 

Visitors are expected to adhere to all visiting regulations established by the institution. Any violation of visiting regulations or act which jeopardizes the safe and orderly operation of the facility may result in the denial of current and future visiting privileges and/or criminal prosecution. A visitor’s visiting privileges may be suspended for a designated or indefinite period of time at the discretion of the Warden or designee. Upon expiration of the suspension, the visitor may reapply for visiting privileges in writing to the Warden.

Denial/Suspension Of Visiting Privileges:

If one or more of the following conditions exists it may serve as grounds to suspend/deny visiting privileges:

• The visitor has a record of disruptive conduct, or violates institutional visiting policies.

• The visitor is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• The visitor refuses to submit to a search, to show proper identification upon request, or presents inaccurate information concerning his/her identification, or grounds for visiting.

• The visitor fails to comply with dress code regulations.

• The visit is determined to be detrimental to the inmate’s rehabilitation.

• The visitor is a former inmate and has not been released from custody for at least 60 days or is currently on probation or parole and does not have approval of the Warden to visit.

• Individuals seeking an exception to this policy must submit a written request to the Warden or designee. Each request will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and approved or disapproved accordingly.

• The visitor is a present or former employee who has not received official authorization to visit an inmate from the Warden prior to the time of the visit.

• The inmate wished to deny the visit.

• The visitor fails to follow directions from staff.

Dress Code:

• The wearing of suggestive, revealing or otherwise inappropriate attire is strictly prohibited.
• The wearing of clothing that potentially or partially conceals the identity of a person is strictly prohibited.

Prohibited attire includes:

• Halter tops, half shirts and or tube tops.

• See-thru (transparent) or spaghetti strap type garments.

• Skirts, pants, or shorts above mid-thigh (hem length).

• Tight fitting clothing that reveals body contour.

• Clothing that exposes the midriff area, significant portions of the torso or shoulders, extremely low cut shirts of any type.

• Torn/ripped clothing that exposes underwear or private areas of the body. Articles of underwear shall not be visible at any time.

• Tight fitting Spandex clothing of any type (i.e. shirts, pants, jogging attire).

• Headwear of any type (i.e. caps, hats, hoodies).

• Any other clothing that is otherwise clearly inappropriate as determined by OPSO staff.

Metal Detector:

All visitors and their possessions entering OPSO will be screened for contraband. Failure to successfully clear the metal detector or fulfil any other screening requirement will constitute grounds for being denied a visitor entrance into the facility. Inmate, visitor, community, and staff safety are the primary reasons for the search process.

OPSO Visitation Procedures

In order to visit an Inmate at an OPSO facility, you must comply with the following rules and regulations: 

• You must have a valid State driver's license or picture ID. 
• If you are displaced as a result of the storm, the blue card must reflect the address where you are currently living (This is considered your temporary address). 

When you visit you must bring your State ID, your blue card, and a piece of mail that you have received at this temporary address. 

Anyone wanting to visit an inmate at an OPSO facility must be dressed appropriately. If there is a question as to a person's dress, the Watch Commander on duty will have the discretion as to whether the person will be allowed to visit or not. The following articles will not be allowed during visitation (If a visitor is wearing one of the following, the visitor will be asked to remove it and leave it in a secured area prior to visitation. Anyone who does not comply will not be allowed to visit). 

• No caps of any kind 
• No scarves/bandanas 
• No curlers 
• No low cut or see-through blouses 
• No shorts or short skirts (skirts must be at least knee length) 
• No tank tops or sleeveless shirts 
• No strapless or backless shoes 
• No leggings/skin-tight pants 
• All females must be wearing undergarments (bras/slips/etc.) 
• All keys must be in one's pocket (not on a chain around one's neck) 
• No oversized earrings/necklaces 
• No name tags/pins 
• No hairpins/decorative barrettes 
• No skirts with high slits 
• No baby bottles/diaper bags 

  * This list is subject to the Warden/Watch Commander's discretion and is subject to be changed without prior notification. 

  Anyone under the influence of alcohol/drugs will be denied visitation privileges. Anyone causing disruptive behavior will be denied visitation privileges. If either of these occur, the visitor's blue visitation card will be confiscated and the visitor will be asked to leave the premises. 

  If a person has violated OPSO rules and regulations and their visitation privileges have been denied, the Warden/Watch Commander will be notified and a report will be submitted to the visitation office the next day. The reason for denial and the visitor's blue visitation card will be attached to the report. 

  In order to have visitation privileges reinstated the visitor must contact the Warden/Watch Commander of the building in regards to the report. Visitation privileges will not be reinstated unless the Warden/Watch Commander approves it.