Women's Inmate Handbook

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Louisiana Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

Whichever of the following exists: a general inmate handbook for women incarcerated in the state or the inmate handbook for the women's prison facility (specifically the handbook for the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women). I would like the most recent version.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 3 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Miriam Vishniac

Sorry, are you saying that the inmate handbook for the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women is 10,000 pages? Because that is how many pages it would have to be for a 25 cent per page copy charge to lead to a $2500 deposit. By Inmate Handbook I mean the handbook of information usually given to inmates in the state and/or at specific institutions which lets inmates know generally what the rules are and what to expect. The longest handbook I have seen is 30 pages. You have a friends and family handbook, and I am looking for the one meant for inmates.

Let me be even more specific, in case that is the issue here. In the Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 22, §1303. Standard Operating Procedures, under 'Resident Discipline', it says, "Residents assigned to the program shall comply with all rules and procedures set forth by the facility. Each resident shall receive a copy of the facility handbook and any other rules and regulations of the facility’s program, including disciplinary procedures available to the staff, which the resident is required to read. The resident shall sign and date a statement acknowledging this, which is placed in his file." I am asking for this facility handbook for the only women's facility in the state. As this handbook is handed out to all inmates, I assume it is not 10,000 pages long.

Please confirm, in writing, that this is 10,000 pages or that your original estimate was incorrect. I look forward to your answer within the timeframe specified under the public records law.

Thank you,
Miriam Vishniac, MPP

Ms. Laird,

Thank you for sending the Offender Rule Book. I just want to confirm that there is no other inmate orientation handbook or material that is given to inmates at the women's facility. I'm looking for the orientation booklet which tends to lay out what the procedures are for mail, the commissary, or the laundry at the facility. It's fine if no such handbook exists, I just want to confirm that this is the case.

Thank you,
Miriam Vishniac