Angola Prison Tours: Morbid Mondays?

The Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola, 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. The prison is located at the end of Highway 66, approximately 22 miles northwest of the town of St. Francisville, Louisiana.

The prison offers various programs and services to inmates, including educational programs, vocational training, and mental health initiatives. Visitors are allowed on Saturdays and Sundays from 6 am to 4 pm, and the prison also hosts a rodeo every Sunday in October.

However, Angola has also been criticised for its conditions and treatment of inmates, with reports of forced labour, inadequate medical care, and human rights violations. Inmates have filed lawsuits against the prison, alleging that they were subjected to cruel and unusual punishment.

The prison has a dark history, as it is named after the former slave plantation that occupied the territory. The plantation was named after the country of Angola, from which many enslaved people originated.

Angola State Penitentiary's history of violence

The Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola, is a maximum-security prison in Louisiana. It is the largest maximum-security prison in the United States, with 6,300 prisoners and 1,800 staff. The prison has a long and violent history, dating back to the 1800s.

In the 1800s, the land on which the prison is located was a slave plantation owned by slave trader Isaac Franklin. After the Civil War, in 1869, the land was leased to former Confederate Major Samuel Lawrence James, who used the forced labour of African Americans to produce cotton. Under the convict lease system, James had total authority over the convicts, who were frequently abused, underfed, and subjected to unregulated violence. Many convicts were worked to death under harsh conditions.

In 1901, the state of Louisiana took control of the prison and ended the convict lease system. However, violence and brutality continued to plague the prison. In 1928, a group of prisoners took two guards hostage and escaped, leading to a gunfight that left five prisoners dead and 26 people injured. In the 1930s, the prison was described as "probably as close to slavery as any person could come". Racial tensions and violence were prevalent, with one in every ten inmates being stabbed each year.

In the 1950s, the prison gained a reputation as "the worst prison in America" due to its harsh conditions. In protest, 31 inmates cut their Achilles tendons, leading to national news agencies exposing the conditions at Angola. In the 1960s, the prison was dubbed "the bloodiest prison in the South" due to the high rate of inmate assaults.

In more recent years, violence has continued to be an issue at Angola. In 1993, officers fatally shot a 29-year-old escapee, and in 1999, inmates took three officers hostage, killing one of them. In 2019, seven staff members were arrested for various crimes, including rape and maintaining personal relationships with prisoners.

Angola's maximum-security prison and contraband

Angola Prison, officially known as the Louisiana State Penitentiary, is the largest maximum-security prison in the United States. Located in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, the prison is situated between oxbow lakes on the east side of a bend in the Mississippi River. With a population of 6,300 prisoners and 1,800 staff, it has earned the nickname "a gated community".

The prison has a long and bloody history. Built on a former slave plantation, Angola Prison is known for its violent past, with thousands of prisoners dying while working in the fields. The prison's on-site museum displays crude weapons fashioned by inmates, including a shotgun made from metal pipes, knives, a medieval axe, and a spiked ball on a chain.

In recent years, Angola Prison has faced scrutiny for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Inmates reported widespread illness, dysfunctional care, and neglect, with officials downplaying the severity of the outbreak. The prison also faced criticism for its use of strip searches to combat drug-related deaths, with data suggesting that contraband was brought in by staff or contractors rather than inmates or visitors.

Angola Prison continues to grapple with issues of contraband and drug use. Inmates and advocates have expressed concerns about the frequency and intrusive nature of strip searches, which have been conducted en masse in response to drug-related incidents.

The prison offers various programs and facilities for inmates, including educational programs, vocational training, and religious initiatives. It also hosts a rodeo twice a year, pitting prisoners against beasts in front of large crowds.

With its complex history and ongoing challenges, Angola Prison remains one of the most notorious maximum-security prisons in the United States.

Angola's 'Bloodiest Prison in America'

Angolas Bloodiest Prison in America

The Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola, has been described as "the bloodiest prison in America". Located in West Feliciana Parish, the prison is situated between oxbow lakes on the east side of a bend in the Mississippi River. With a history of violence, Angola has gained a reputation as one of the most notorious prisons in the United States.

A Violent History

Angola has a long history of violence and bloodshed. In 1928, a group of prisoners took two prison guards hostage and attempted to escape. The breakout attempt resulted in a gunfight that left five prisoners dead and twenty-six people injured. In the 1930s, hardened criminals would break down upon learning that they were being sent to Angola, reflecting the prison's fearsome reputation.

Inmate Deaths

Over the years, thousands of prisoners have died at Angola, many while working in the fields. In one incident, thirty-one inmates cut their Achilles tendons to protest their harsh working conditions. Suicides were also common, with hangings and stabbings occurring frequently. The prison's death row and execution chamber have been the site of numerous executions, with the electric chair, nicknamed "Gruesome Gertie", being stored at Angola.

Inmate Abuse

In addition to the violence inflicted by inmates on each other, Angola has also been the site of abuse by guards and older inmates towards younger prisoners. Juvenile inmates have reported being subjected to extended periods of solitary confinement, inadequate food and water, and a lack of access to education and mental health resources. Adult inmates have also reported being abused, underfed, and subjected to unregulated violence.

Efforts at Reform

Despite its bloody history, there have been efforts to reform and improve conditions at Angola. In the 1970s, Judge Frank Polozola declared a state of emergency at the prison, leading to the appointment of a new warden who improved conditions. In recent years, programs such as the Angola Prison Seminary, which uses faith-based interventions for mental healthcare and inmate rehabilitation, have been introduced.

While Angola has been the site of countless violent incidents and inmate deaths, efforts at reform have led to some improvements in conditions. However, with its history of abuse, violent deaths, and bloody reputation, Angola remains one of the most notorious and feared prisons in the United States.

Angola Prison Rodeo and its brutality

The Angola Prison Rodeo, held at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, is the longest-running prison rodeo in the United States. It began in 1965 as a joint effort between inmates, prison employees, and civilians living in Angola's residential area. The rodeo includes traditional events like bull riding, bronco riding, and barrel racing, but also features unique events created specifically for the prison setting, such as Convict Poker and Guts & Glory. While the rodeo is voluntary, it has faced criticism for its potential brutality and exploitation of inmates.

One of the main concerns is the lack of training provided to inmates participating in the rodeo events. Events like "Bust Out," where inmates ride angry bulls, and "Wild Cow Milking," where inmates chase cows in the arena, can be extremely dangerous without proper instruction. Inmates are only required to wear protective gear and are not given any formal training, increasing the risk of injury.

Another issue is the economic incentive created by the cash prizes offered at the rodeo. Inmates can win up to $500 in the Guts & Glory event, which is a substantial amount compared to their usual wages of between $0.02 and $0.75 per hour. This financial temptation may compromise the voluntary nature of the event, as inmates may feel pressured to participate despite the risks involved.

The Angola Prison Rodeo has also faced criticism for its potential exploitation of inmates for entertainment and financial gain. In 2013, an article in the LSU Reveille compared the rodeo to "Roman gladiators (read: glorified slaves)" and described it as "barbaric." The article highlighted the potential for serious injury, especially in events like Convict Poker, where the sole purpose is to unseat the poker players. While some safety measures have been implemented, such as the use of helmets and mouth guards, injuries remain common.

Despite these concerns, the Angola Prison Rodeo continues to be a popular event, attracting thousands of visitors each year. The proceeds from the rodeo are used to fund religious and educational programs for prisoners, funeral expenses, and the maintenance of prison chapels. However, the rodeo's revenue has also been the subject of controversy, with audits revealing mishandling of funds and improper use of concession sales revenue.

Angola's history of slavery and civil war

Angola's history of slavery dates back to the late 15th century when Portugal established contact with the people living in what is now the northwest of the country. The Portuguese founded several trade posts on the coast, and the Imbangala and Mbundu peoples were active slave traders for centuries. In the late 16th century, Portuguese explorers founded the fortified settlement of Luanda, and later minor trade posts and forts on the Cuanza River and the Atlantic coast southwards to Benguela. The slave trade was Angola's major export, and Portugal was actively involved in its acquisition. People were also enslaved through inter-African conflicts, such as civil wars in the Kongo after 1665, and conflicts during the rise of the Lunda Empire after 1750.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the port of Cabinda was a major hub for the slave trade, and Angola was the principal source of slaves for the Atlantic trade during this period. The export of slaves was banned in Angola in 1836, and slavery was legally abolished in the Portuguese empire in 1875. However, slavery continued in thinly disguised forms until the 1960s.

The Angolan Civil War began in 1975, immediately after Angola gained independence from Portugal. It was a power struggle between two former anti-colonial guerrilla movements: the communist People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the anti-communist National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). The war can be divided into three periods of major fighting: from 1975 to 1991, 1992 to 1994, and from 1998 to 2002, with fragile periods of peace in between. The war was notable due to the combination of Angola's violent internal dynamics and the high degree of foreign military and political involvement. It is widely considered a Cold War proxy conflict, as the Soviet Union and the United States, along with their respective allies Cuba and South Africa, assisted the opposing factions. By the time the MPLA achieved victory in 2002, between 500,000 and 800,000 people had died, and over one million had been internally displaced. The war devastated Angola's infrastructure and severely damaged public administration, the economy, and religious institutions.

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