The deputy secretary of the Department of Public Safety serves as Superintendent of the Louisiana State Police.

The assistant secretary leads and directs the department's operational audit teams, which conduct audits of all adult and juvenile institutions, non-secure contract facilities, and community work release centers and assist all units with matters relative to the maintenance of American Correctional Association (ACA) accreditation.

OAS staff support the Administrative Remedy Procedure and disciplinary appeal processes, screen and recommend inmates for participation in work release, and maintain central office ACA accreditation.

There are eleven adult institutions under the broad authority of the assistant secretary, including two operated under contractual agreements with private management corporations.

DYS has offices located in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Harvey, Hammond, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, Natchitoches, New Orleans, Opelousas, Shreveport, Tallulah, and Thibodaux.

Officers of the division supervise adult felony offenders who are released to the community on probation, parole, diminution of sentence, or medical furlough.

District offices are located in Alexandria, Amite, Baton Rouge, Chalmette, Clinton, Covington, Donaldsonville, Harvey, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Leesville, Minden, Monroe, Natchitoches, New Iberia, New Orleans, Port Allen, Shreveport, Tallulah, Thibodaux, and Ville Platte.

[10] The Prison Enterprises Division (PE) helps to reduce the overall cost of prison operations and the operating costs of other state agencies, local government entities, and other tax-supported institutions primarily by operating self-supported industrial and agricultural businesses that employ inmates in meaningful jobs, teach them marketable skills and good work habits, and provide quality, cost-effective products and services.

Farming operations include row crops and garden vegetables, range herds, a swinery, food processing, a feed mill, land leveling, hay production, and forestry.

Industrial operations include the manufacture of license plates, mattresses, mops, brooms, chemicals, garments, and office chairs; a print shop; silkscreen operations; a plastic sign shop; metal fabrication; embroidery and furniture refurbishing; and janitorial services for other agencies.

The board meets on regularly scheduled, publicly announced dates to consider applications for pardon, sentence commutation, and restoration of rights and privileges of citizenship.

[12] The Superintendent of the Louisiana State Police also serves as ex officio Deputy Secretary of Public Safety Services, with more than 2600 personnel.

Beginning January 8, 2024, Robert P. Hodges will replace outgoing Colonel Lamar Davis[13] as the 27th Louisiana State Police superintendent and deputy secretary of Public Safety Services.

[16] The Transportation Safety Services (TSS), within the Louisiana State Police Patrol Division, includes the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, which includes the Motor Carrier Safety Unit, Towing and Recovery Unit (1989- Louisiana Towing and Storage Act), Motor Vehicle Inspection Unit, and the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division.

[18] Since its inception, the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections has lost 12 officers in line-of-duty deaths, the latter two due to COVID-19.

Union Troops occupied the penitentiary during the Civil War, and in 1869, the lease was awarded to a former Confederate Major by the name of Samuel James.

The new general manager, Henry L. Fuqua, fired almost all of the officers at Angola and in their place put selected inmate "trusty guards".

Male death row inmates are transferred directly from their parish of sentencing to the Louisiana State Penitentiary (Angola).

[25] Prior to July 2012, Male inmates within seven years of their release who have positive behavior and work records and who are not inherently prohibited by the crimes they committed were eligible to be transferred to the minimum security J.

Inpatient mental health care for men is provided at Louisiana State Penitentiary and Elayn Hunt Correctional Center.

[30] As of 2007 some prisoners may elect to go to the Louisiana State Police Troop A in Baton Rouge; it houses a minimum security correctional facility not operated by the DOC.

[33][34] The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections previously handled the care of juvenile prisoners.

[40] As of September 30, 2009, 84 people, including 82 males and 2 females, were on death row for committing violent crimes.