Angola's Work Release: Exploring Prisoner Labor Laws

Prisoners in Angola are forced to work in gruelling conditions for little to no pay. The Louisiana State Penitentiary, commonly known as Angola, is the country's largest maximum-security prison. It stands on the site of a former plantation, and prisoners are forced to work in the fields, harvesting produce. Angola has a long history of using prison labour, dating back to before the end of the Civil War. While prison agriculture programs are often framed as rehabilitative, providing inmates with skills that can be used after release, critics argue that the labour is inherently punitive and exploitative. Inmates at Angola are paid as little as 2 cents an hour and are often denied basic necessities such as water, protective gear, and medical care. The prison has been the subject of multiple lawsuits and strikes by prisoners demanding an end to what they call modern-day slavery.

Prisoners at Angola are forced to work for pennies an hour or sometimes nothing at all

Prisoners at Angola, the largest maximum-security prison in the US, are forced to work for pennies an hour or sometimes nothing at all. The prison, which stands on the site of a former plantation, is known for its brutal conditions and history of violence.

Prisoners are forced to do manual labour in the fields, harvesting produce in harsh conditions with little water to keep them hydrated and cool. They are paid between 2 cents and 40 cents an hour for their work, which often involves bending down for long hours in the hot sun. If they refuse to work, they can jeopardise their chances of parole or face punishment such as being sent to solitary confinement.

Angola has a long history of using prisoner labour, dating back to before the end of the Civil War when the state first built its penitentiary in Baton Rouge in 1837. The prison took control of the Angola plantation in 1901, housing prisoners in old slave quarters and forcing them to work in the existing cotton fields. Even as recently as 1979, prisoners at Angola were referred to as "hands", echoing the language used by slave masters.

Today, Angola still has the look and feel of a plantation, with rows of crops tended by prisoners. The prison grows wheat, corn, soybeans, cotton, and milo, which are sold on the open market. While the state frames these agricultural programs as rehabilitative, providing prisoners with skills they can use upon release, critics argue that the labour is inherently punitive and exploitative.

Prisoners at Angola have a long history of resisting their working conditions, with protests and work stoppages occurring as early as the 1950s. In recent years, prisoners have demanded an end to what they call "modern-day slavery", calling for opportunities for education instead of hard labour. They argue that the harsh working conditions and low pay contribute to tension and violence in the prison, affecting both prisoners and guards.

The 13th Amendment, which outlawed slavery, contains a loophole that allows for involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. This loophole has been used to justify the continued use of prisoner labour in Angola and other prisons across the country. However, legal experts and activists are challenging this practice, arguing that it amounts to slavery and violates human rights.

Angola prisoners are part of a hidden workforce linked to popular food brands

Angola prisoners are part of a hidden workforce linked to hundreds of popular food brands. The Louisiana State Penitentiary, formerly a Southern slave plantation, is now the country's largest maximum-security prison. The prison has a workforce of men who are forced to work for pennies an hour or sometimes nothing at all. These prisoners are among America's most vulnerable labourers. If they refuse to work, they may face punishment or jeopardise their chances of parole. They are also excluded from the protections guaranteed to full-time workers.

The products of their labour end up in the supply chains of well-known companies and are found in most American kitchens. These include Frosted Flakes, Ball Park hot dogs, Gold Medal flour, Coca-Cola, and Riceland rice. They are sold in most supermarkets, including Kroger, Target, Aldi, and Whole Foods. Some goods are even exported to countries that have had products blocked from entering the US due to the use of forced or prison labour.

Many companies that buy directly from prisons are violating their own policies against the use of such labour. However, this practice is legal, dating back to the need for labour to rebuild the South's economy after the Civil War. While slavery and involuntary servitude are banned by the 13th Amendment, there is an exception for those convicted of a crime. This clause is currently being challenged at the federal level, and efforts are being made to remove similar language from state constitutions.

The number of people behind bars in the US has been increasing since the 1970s, and prison labour has become a multibillion-dollar industry. While agricultural work only represents a small fraction of the overall prison workforce, it still generates significant revenue. Prison labour provides cheap and reliable workers for companies, who also benefit from tax credits and other financial incentives. However, incarcerated workers lack basic protections and are often excluded from workers' compensation and federal safety standards. They work in dangerous and dirty jobs and are vulnerable to injuries and abuse.

Angola is the country's largest maximum-security prison

Angola's history is deeply rooted in slavery and racial injustice. After the Civil War, the 13th Amendment's exception clause allowed for prison labour, which was often used to round up thousands of young Black men and lease them to plantations and companies. This convict-leasing system lasted until 1928 and set the stage for the modern-day prison-industrial complex.

Today, Angola prisoners are forced to work in gruelling conditions, earning as little as 2 cents an hour. The work is primarily agricultural, with prisoners harvesting crops such as soybeans and okra. The prison justifies this labour as providing skills that may be useful after release and helping to offset the cost of incarceration. However, critics argue that the work is inherently punitive and exploitative, with prisoners denied basic rights, protections, and humane treatment.

Prisoners at Angola have a long history of resisting their working conditions, with protests and strikes occurring as early as the 1950s. In recent years, there has been a growing movement to abolish forced labour and improve educational opportunities for prisoners. Activists argue that investing in education and rehabilitation programmes would benefit both prisoners and correctional officers, reducing tension and making the prison environment safer for all.

Prisoners are forced to work in harsh conditions without protective gear and denied water and medicine

Angola Prison, also known as the Louisiana State Penitentiary, is a maximum-security prison farm in Louisiana. It is the largest maximum-security prison in the United States, with 6,300 prisoners and 1,800 staff.

Prisoners at Angola are forced to work in harsh conditions without protective gear and are denied water and medicine. They are made to work in extreme heat, without access to clean drinking water, and are forced to work even if they are sick or disabled. They are denied sunscreen and work with their hands, being refused modern agricultural tools.

In July 2024, a federal judge called on Angola to protect prisoners working outside during the extreme heat, ordering state officials to make changes to their heat-related policies. This came after a class-action lawsuit was filed against the prison, alleging that the conditions on the Farm Line 'create a substantial risk of injury or death'.

The history of Angola is rooted in slavery. The prison sits on the site of a former slave plantation, and the work that prisoners are forced to do today is not dissimilar to that of enslaved people. During the convict-leasing period, which officially ended in 1928, thousands of mostly young Black men were jailed for petty offenses and then leased out to plantations and companies, where they were subject to brutal and deadly working conditions.

Today, prisoners at Angola work the same plantation soil, with some present-day images looking similar to the past. They are paid very low wages, if at all, and are subject to punishment if they refuse to work or do not meet quotas. This form of modern-day slavery is a violation of human rights and a cruel and unusual punishment.

Angola's farm work is framed as rehabilitative but is actually punitive in nature

Angola Prison, formerly a Southern slave plantation, is now the country's largest maximum-security prison. The prison is located in Louisiana, which has one of the country's highest incarceration rates.

Prisoners at Angola are forced to work in the fields, harvesting crops such as cotton, tobacco, sugarcane, soybeans, and okra. The work is grueling, requiring long hours of manual labor in hot and sunny conditions. Despite the challenging nature of the work, prisoners are paid very little, earning as little as 2 cents to 40 cents an hour.

While the prison claims that the work is rehabilitative and provides inmates with valuable skills, the reality is that the work is punitive in nature. The conditions are harsh, with reports of inadequate access to water, a lack of protective gear, and denial of medical care. Inmates with physical disabilities or health issues are often forced to work, and those who refuse to work face severe punishment, including solitary confinement.

The history of Angola Prison is deeply rooted in slavery, and the current practices of forced labor echo the plantation's dark past. The 13th Amendment, which outlawed slavery, contains a loophole that allows for involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. This loophole has been used to justify the harsh labor conditions at Angola and other prisons across the country.

Legal experts and academics have argued that the labor at Angola is inherently punitive rather than beneficial. The conditions violate human rights, and the low wages or lack thereof amount to modern-day slavery. Inmates and activists are calling for an end to forced labor and are demanding opportunities for education and rehabilitation instead.

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