Angola Incarceration: Exploring Sexuality Among Male Prisoners

Angola Prison, also known as the Louisiana State Penitentiary, is a maximum-security prison farm in Louisiana, USA. It is the largest maximum-security prison in the country, with 6,300 prisoners and 1,800 staff. The prison is known for its brutal past and present, with inmates being subjected to cruel and unusual punishment, including slow torture by untreated medical conditions.

The prison was nicknamed Angola after the former slave plantation that occupied the territory. The plantation was named after the country of Angola, from which many enslaved people originated.

In recent years, there has been a push for prison reform and the improvement of conditions at Angola. However, the prison still struggles with issues such as inadequate medical care and the cruel treatment of inmates.

While I found information about Angola Prison in Louisiana, I could not find specific information about the sexual orientation of the incarcerated men at the prison.

Angola Prison's history of slavery and systemic sexual slavery

The Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola, is a maximum-security prison farm in Louisiana. It is named after the former slave plantation that occupied the territory. The plantation was named after the country of Angola, from which many of the enslaved people originated before arriving in Louisiana.

The 28 square miles of land the prison sits on was known before the American Civil War as the Angola Plantations, a slave plantation owned by slave trader Isaac Franklin. After he died in 1846, Franklin's widow, Adelicia Cheatham, joined these plantations: Panola, Belle View, Killarney, and Angola, when she sold them all in 1880 to Samuel Lawrence James, a former Confederate major.

Under the convict lease system, Major James ran his vast plantation using convicts leased from the state as his workers. He was responsible for their room and board and had total authority over them. With the incentive to earn money from prisoners, the state passed laws directed at African Americans, requiring payment of minor fees and fines as punishment for infractions. Cash-poor men in the agricultural economy were forced into jail and convict labor. Such convicts were frequently abused, underfed, and subject to unregulated violence. The state exercised little oversight of conditions. Prisoners were often worked to death under harsh conditions.

In 1930, a memoir by Wilbert Rideau, an inmate at Angola from 1961 through 2005, states that "slavery was commonplace in Angola with perhaps a quarter of the population in bondage" throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. The New York Times states that weak inmates served as sex slaves who were raped, gang-raped, and traded and sold like cattle. Rideau stated, "The slave's only way out was to commit suicide, escape or kill his master." Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox, members of the Angola 3, became active members of the prison's chapter of the Black Panther Party, where they organized petitions and hunger strikes to protest conditions at the prison and helped new inmates protect themselves from rape and enslavement. C. Murray Henderson, one of the wardens brought in to clean up the prison, stated in one of his memoirs that the systemic sexual slavery was sanctioned and facilitated by the officers.

In 2021, a federal judge found that the Louisiana State Penitentiary violated the Americans with Disabilities Act in treating inmates requiring rehabilitative services. The judge ruled that the Louisiana State Penitentiary had committed a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and concluded that fifteen areas required injunctive relief.

Today, the prison spans 18,000 acres—most of it farmland—and its slavery-era name is still in use. About 5,300 people are incarcerated at Angola, and approximately 1,800 people work there, many of whom live with their families on the prison grounds, which include schools, a golf course, tennis courts, and a pool for their use.

People incarcerated at Angola are paid a few cents an hour to work the same fields, picking cotton, corn, and more, from the same land slaves were forced to work 200 years ago. Some incarcerated people are even tasked with fishing, cooking, and doing repair work for the “free men”—as people imprisoned at Angola call the prison staff.

Angola is, essentially, a place where slavery never ended.

Angola Prison's current conditions and treatment of prisoners

Angola Prison, officially known as the Louisiana State Penitentiary, is the largest maximum-security prison in the United States. It is located in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, and was named after the former slave plantation that occupied the territory.

Current Conditions

Angola Prison is a working farm, with inmates cultivating crops such as cabbage, corn, cotton, strawberries, okra, onions, peppers, soybeans, squash, tomatoes, and wheat. The prison is self-sufficient, with a canning factory, a dairy, a mail system, a small ranch, repair shops, and a sugar mill. Inmates are paid very little for their labour, earning as little as 4 cents an hour.

The prison has a long history of violence, with a reputation for brutal beatings by guards and fights among inmates. It has also been criticised for its mistreatment of prisoners, with reports of human rights abuses, deficient mental health care, and poor living conditions.

In recent years, there have been efforts to reform and improve conditions at Angola Prison. In 2019, seven staff members were arrested for rape, smuggling items to inmates, and maintaining personal relationships with prisoners. During the COVID-19 pandemic, inmates reported widespread illness, dysfunctional care, and neglect.

Treatment of Prisoners

Prisoners at Angola are subject to harsh conditions and treatment. The prison has been criticised for its use of solitary confinement and extended lockdowns as punishment. In the past, prisoners were subjected to physical abuse, overcrowding, and racial segregation.

Inmates have also reported inadequate medical care, with cancers and other slow-growing diseases often discovered late or ignored. During the COVID-19 pandemic, inmates reported being denied medical attention and testing, even when displaying symptoms of the virus.

The prison has a history of using inmate labour, with prisoners working in the fields for little to no pay. This practice has been challenged in court, with inmates arguing that it is cruel, degrading, and dangerous.

Angola Prison also has a unique approach to rehabilitation, with a focus on religion. The warden, Burl Cain, invited the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary to open an ordination program on the prison grounds, and inmate-ministers now offer counselling and religious services to their fellow inmates.

Despite some improvements, Angola Prison continues to face criticism for its conditions and treatment of prisoners. With its long history of violence and human rights abuses, it remains one of the most notorious prisons in the United States.

Angola Prison's lack of adequate medical care

Angola Prison, officially known as the Louisiana State Penitentiary, has been the subject of much criticism and legal action due to its lack of adequate medical care. The prison, which is the largest maximum-security prison in the United States, has faced multiple lawsuits and court rulings that have detailed extensive failures in its medical care system. Here is an overview of the issues:

Inadequate Medical Care and Infrastructure

Angola Prison has been criticized for failing to provide proper medical diagnosis and treatment to its inmates. There have been reports of unacceptable delays in treatment, a lack of qualified medical staff, and insufficient infrastructure to deliver adequate healthcare. This has resulted in preventable injuries, sickness, and even deaths among the prison population.

Denial of Basic Screenings and Treatments

Basic screenings and treatments are often denied to inmates, and those with disabilities or mobility issues face additional challenges in accessing medical care. Security personnel, rather than medical professionals, are often tasked with assessing whether an inmate requires urgent medical attention, which can lead to further delays and neglect.

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

The lack of adequate medical care at Angola Prison has been deemed a violation of the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against "cruel and unusual punishment." Federal judges and legal experts have argued that the prison's failure to meet the serious medical needs of inmates amounts to cruel and unusual punishment, inflicting unnecessary suffering.

High Rates of Prison Deaths and Inadequate Hospice Care

Angola Prison has contributed to Louisiana having the highest rate of prison deaths per capita in the country. The inadequate healthcare, combined with the prison's failure to provide proper hospice care for its aging and vulnerable population, has resulted in preventable deaths.

Neglect of Mental Health and Disability Accommodations

In addition to physical health issues, Angola Prison has been criticized for its mental health interventions and lack of disability accommodations. While faith-based initiatives and inmate counseling have been introduced, there is a lack of qualified mental health professionals to address the complex needs of the inmate population. Additionally, the prison has been found to be in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as it fails to provide adequate accommodations for incarcerated individuals with mobility issues, further endangering their health and well-being.

Systemic Failures and Lack of Accountability

The issues within Angola Prison's medical care system are not isolated incidents but rather systemic failures that have persisted for decades. Despite court rulings and settlements, the prison has struggled to implement lasting reforms. This is partly due to the Prison Litigation Reform Act, which makes it difficult for inmates to force improvements in prison conditions.

Impact of Mass Incarceration and Tough Sentencing Laws

Angola Prison's medical care deficiencies are exacerbated by the high incarceration rates and tough sentencing laws in Louisiana. The prison is operating at maximum capacity, housing over 6,000 inmates, which further strains its ability to provide adequate medical care. The state's tough sentencing laws result in long sentences, and only a handful of inmates are granted parole each year, leading to a growing aging population within the prison.

In conclusion, Angola Prison's lack of adequate medical care has resulted in unnecessary suffering, injuries, and deaths among its inmates. The issues are systemic and require significant reforms to address the infrastructure, staffing, and cultural shortcomings within the prison's medical care system. The prison's failure to meet the basic medical needs of its incarcerated population has led to legal repercussions and highlights the broader issues of mass incarceration and sentencing practices in the United States.

Angola Prison's high rate of prison deaths per capita

Angola Prison, officially the Louisiana State Penitentiary, is a maximum-security prison farm in Louisiana, United States. It is the largest maximum-security prison in the country, with 6,300 prisoners and 1,800 staff. The prison has a long history of human rights abuses, including forced labour, and has been criticised for its brutal and harmful conditions.

Angola Prison has a high rate of deaths per capita. In 2023, the death rate was 4.7 out of 1,000 incarcerated people, only slightly lower than the rate in 1946, when detailed reports on prison conditions were last published. That year, out of a prison population of around 120,000, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) recorded 574 total prisoner deaths.

The causes of death are often unclear, as compliance with reporting requirements is poor, and the prison system is able to conceal work-related injuries and deaths. However, it is known that prisoners have died from heat exposure, as Texas experiences extremely high temperatures. In 2023, a prisoner, Tommy McCullough, died of suspected heat-related causes. Additionally, in 1940, three incarcerated labourers died from heat stroke while working on Brazoria County prison farms.

The death rate is also impacted by harsh sentencing laws and an aging prison population. Furthermore, the lack of transparency and inadequate reporting requirements make it difficult to identify the causes of the high frequency of prisoner deaths.

Historically, the death rate among Texas prisoners peaked in 1878 at a staggering 147 deaths per 1,000 incarcerated, during the convict-leasing era when prisoners were treated as virtual slaves. However, with increasing scrutiny and the end of convict leasing in 1910, the death rate dropped to an average of 52 per 1,000 between 1882 and 1910.

While there have been some improvements and reforms over the years, Angola Prison still faces issues with high death rates, and the lack of transparency and accountability makes it challenging to address these issues effectively.

Angola Prison's high number of prisoners serving life sentences without parole

Angola Prison, officially known as the Louisiana State Penitentiary, is a maximum-security prison in Louisiana, United States. It is the largest maximum-security prison in the country, with 6,300 prisoners and 1,800 staff. Angola Prison has a high number of prisoners serving life sentences without parole, and this can be attributed to a range of factors, including the state's harsh sentencing laws, plea deals, and the lack of parole eligibility.

Louisiana's tough sentencing laws have resulted in lengthy sentences for inmates convicted of serious crimes such as armed robbery, murder, and rape. The state's high incarceration rate and stringent laws have led to a significant number of prisoners serving life sentences without the possibility of parole. This is further exacerbated by the racial disparities within the criminal justice system, as evidenced by the overrepresentation of Black inmates serving life sentences at Angola.

Additionally, plea deals have played a role in the high number of life sentences at Angola. In the 1960s, Black individuals charged with murder, such as Lester Pearson, often accepted plea deals to avoid the death penalty. However, despite agreeing to plead guilty in exchange for the possibility of parole after a certain number of years, many of these individuals found themselves serving life sentences as parole eligibility requirements kept changing.

The state of Louisiana has repeatedly increased the requirements for parole eligibility, making it more difficult for prisoners serving life sentences to obtain release. In 1973, the state raised the parole eligibility requirement to 20 years, and in 1976, it was increased again to 40 years. By 1979, the chance of parole for those serving life sentences was effectively eliminated, leaving many prisoners with no hope of release.

The high number of prisoners serving life sentences without parole at Angola Prison is a consequence of stringent sentencing laws, plea deals that were not honoured, and the state's changing parole eligibility requirements. This has resulted in a significant number of individuals, particularly from minority communities, spending decades behind bars with no prospect of release.

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