A Louisiana prison visit has turned into a criminal case after deputies said contraband was found during visitor screening. Details remain limited, but the situation shows how quickly a routine visit can become a safety issue inside a correctional facility.
The case is tied to Elayn Hunt Correctional Center, where officials say the discovery happened before more information was released. For now, the focus is on screening, alleged contraband, and the careful balance between prison security and family visits there.
According to Iberville Parish Sheriff Brett Stassi, Shermaniqua Smith, 26, of Shreveport, and Marshayla Blade, 23, of Bossier City, arrived at Elayn Hunt Correctional Center on June 13 for a scheduled visit. That visit became the starting point for the case.
During routine screening, deputies discovered contraband, according to the sheriff’s office. Screening exists because prisons have to control every item entering secure areas, even during family visits, and a single prohibited item can create problems for inmates, staff, and visitors.
The source did not give a detailed description of the contraband, so the cleanest point is what officials confirmed. Deputies said the discovery happened during screening, before Smith and Blade were taken into custody and the matter moved to Iberville Parish.
After the screening, deputies took both women into custody and booked them into the Iberville Parish Jail. That booking step matters because it moved the incident from a prison security concern into a criminal case handled through local law enforcement.
Shermaniqua Smith, 26, was identified as being from Shreveport, while Marshayla Blade, 23, was identified as being from Bossier City. Those home city details are small, but they help show this was not described as a local visitor issue only.
Being booked does not decide guilt. It creates the formal record that prosecutors and a court can review later, including what deputies say happened during the prison visit, what was found during screening, and how the evidence was handled afterward.
Smith and Blade are each charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and introduction of contraband into a penal institution. In simple terms, deputies are alleging more than possession, saying the case involves distribution and an attempt to bring prohibited material inside a prison.
A prison contraband charge is serious because secure facilities depend on tight control over what enters through visits. Even marijuana can create safety problems inside a correctional center, including pressure between inmates, staff discipline issues, and risks tied to hidden exchanges.
No additional information was immediately released, so key details remain open, including the amount, packaging, and how deputies say the contraband was discovered. Those facts matter because they can shape how prosecutors argue intent and how defense attorneys challenge the case.
Debate around prison contraband cases often sits between two real needs: keeping correctional centers secure and preserving visits that help families stay connected. At Elayn Hunt, the June 13 screening shows why deputies treat even scheduled visits with strict caution.
What comes next is not guesswork, but court review. Prosecutors will need to show what Smith and Blade allegedly brought, how it was discovered, and why the charge fits, while, as mentioned, no additional investigation details have been released publicly so far.