Angolan Prisons: A Look Inside The Walls

Prisons are facilities where people are incarcerated against their will, generally as punishment for crimes. Prison conditions vary widely around the world, reflecting the different ways countries treat criminals. Prisons can be used as a form of political repression, with authoritarian regimes detaining perceived opponents, often without a fair trial. In times of war, belligerent countries may also detain prisoners of war or civilians in internment camps. Prison conditions can range from comfortable single bedrooms in Norway to overcrowded and squalid facilities in Malawi. For example, prisoners in Norway have access to musical instruments, DVDs, and video games, while those in Malawi share toilets and taps with hundreds of others.

Angola Prison's history of forced labour

The Louisiana State Penitentiary, commonly 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. Angola stands on the site of a former plantation, which was named for the origin of the slaves that worked its fields.

The history of forced labour in Angola is long and complex. The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery after the Civil War, made an exception for those "duly convicted" of a crime, allowing for forced labour as a form of punishment. This loophole has been used to justify the use of prison labour in Angola and other prisons across the United States.

The land that is now Angola was purchased in the 1830s by Isaac Franklin, a planter and slave trader. After his death in 1846, his widow, Adelicia Cheatham, sold the land to Samuel Lawrence James, a former Confederate major, in 1880. Under the convict lease system, Major James ran the plantation using convicts leased from the state as his workers. He was responsible for their room and board and had total authority over them. This system led to frequent abuse, underfeeding, and unregulated violence against the prisoners.

When the state of Louisiana took over Angola in 1901, forced labour continued. In the early 20th century, prisoners worked from dawn until dusk, and the prison was self-sufficient, with a canning factory, a dairy, a mail system, a small ranch, repair shops, and a sugar mill. Prisoners raised food staples and cash crops, and the self-sufficiency of the prison helped to reduce costs for taxpayers and improve the public image of politicians.

Today, Angola is still operated as a working farm, and most new prisoners begin working in the cotton fields. Prisoners are paid very low wages, typically between 2 and 20 cents an hour, and can face harsh punishments, including solitary confinement, for refusing to work. In recent years, there have been protests and strikes by prisoners demanding an end to what they call "modern-day slavery" and seeking opportunities for education instead of hard labour in the fields.

The prison's location and transportation

The Louisiana State Penitentiary, known as Angola, is located in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, at the end of Highway 66, around 22 miles northwest of St. Francisville. It is about 50 miles northwest of Baton Rouge and 135 miles northwest of New Orleans. The prison is set between oxbow lakes on the east side of a bend in the Mississippi River, which flanks it on three sides.

The prison is accessible by road, with detailed directions provided on the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections website. However, the main entrance to the prison has been described as being at the end of a "winding, often muddy state road". The Angola Ferry also provides a service between Angola and a point in unincorporated Pointe Coupee Parish. This ferry is only open to employees, except during special events.

The prison's remote location means that the nearest non-prison dining facility is around 30 miles away.

Angola's notoriety and public interest

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 on the site of a former slave plantation, from which it gets its name. The plantation was named after the country of Angola, from which many of the enslaved people originated.

Angola Prison has gained a reputation as one of the most notorious prisons in the United States, with a long history of violence, brutality, and inhumane conditions. The prison has been dubbed the "Alcatraz of the South", reflecting its formidable reputation.

One of the striking features of Angola Prison is its size. The prison sits on 28 square miles of land, housing approximately 6,300 prisoners and 1,800 staff members. The vastness of the prison complex, with its multiple camps and dormitories, contributes to its notoriety.

The prison has a dark and troubled past, with a history of slave labour and inhumane treatment. Even after the abolition of slavery, the prison has been criticised for its use of forced agricultural labour, with inmates working long hours in harsh and unsafe conditions, reminiscent of the slavery era. Inmates are paid meagre wages, and those who refuse to work face punishment, including solitary confinement.

The prison has also been criticised for its inadequate medical care, with reports of delayed diagnoses, lack of access to specialists, and neglect of inmate health concerns. The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the deficiencies in the prison's healthcare system, with reports of widespread illness, dysfunctional care, and neglect.

Angola Prison has been the subject of numerous lawsuits and has been under federal oversight for several years due to concerns over inmate treatment, violence, and racial segregation. The prison's history of racial tensions and staff abuse of power has contributed to its notoriety.

Despite efforts at reform and improvement, Angola Prison continues to face scrutiny and criticism. The large inmate population, harsh working conditions, and inadequate rehabilitation programmes have maintained its reputation as one of the toughest and most notorious prisons in the United States.

The prison's remote location, its historical connection to slavery, and its ongoing struggles with reform have made Angola Prison a subject of public interest and scrutiny.

The treatment of prisoners

The Louisiana State Penitentiary, known as Angola, is the largest maximum-security prison in the United States. It is located on the site of a former slave plantation, from which it takes its name. The prison is known for its harsh treatment of prisoners, and its history of forced labour.

Angola is home to 6,300 prisoners and 1,800 staff, including corrections officers, janitors, maintenance workers, and wardens. The prison is set between oxbow lakes on the east side of a bend in the Mississippi River, and is flanked on three sides by water.

Prisoners at Angola are forced to work, earning as little as 4 cents an hour. They work in fields, picking soybeans and okra, and also raise cattle. The prison has a history of brutal treatment of prisoners, with armed guards on horseback overseeing the workers.

In recent years, there have been efforts to reform the prison and improve conditions. In 1971, the American Bar Association criticised conditions at Angola, describing it as "medieval, squalid and horrifying". In 1972, Elayne Hunt, a reforming director of corrections, was appointed. In 1975, U.S. District Judge Frank Polozola of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, declared a state of emergency at the prison, and installed Ross Maggio as the new warden. Maggio was known for strictly adhering to rules, and was credited with improving conditions.

In 1993, Angola officers fatally shot a 29-year-old escapee, and in 1995, Burl Cain was appointed warden, and was known for making numerous improvements and lowering the prison violence rate. However, Cain was also the subject of numerous criminal allegations.

In 2019, seven members of staff were arrested for rape, smuggling items to inmates, and maintaining personal relationships with prisoners. During the COVID-19 pandemic, prisoners alleged that deliberately low testing rates masked an epidemic in the prison, and that they were treated with over-the-counter medications.

Despite these issues, Angola does provide some educational and vocational programs for prisoners, and prisoners are allowed visits from family and friends, which are considered vital to the rehabilitation process.

Angola's facilities and events

Angola Prison, also 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 is surrounded on three sides by the Mississippi River. The prison is known for its history of harsh prisoner treatment, which has gradually been reformed over the years.

Facilities

Angola Prison offers various facilities and programs for its inmates. These include:

• Educational programs: Angola Prison provides opportunities for inmates to participate in educational programs such as NOBTS (New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary), Ashland University, and SSD#1 (Special School District).
• Reentry and rehabilitative programs: The prison offers programs to help inmates transition back into society, such as the PREP Pre-Release Exit and Re-Entry Programs.
• Vocational training: Inmates can enrol in vocational classes such as automotive technology, carpentry, culinary arts, and welding.
• Literacy and GED classes: Angola Prison provides literacy classes for inmates without a high school diploma and offers GED classes to help inmates earn their high school equivalency.
• Religious programs: The prison has faith-based initiatives, such as the Angola Prison Seminary, which offers counselling and support to inmates.
• Inmate-run media: Inmates produce a newsmagazine called "The Angolite" and operate the country's only inmate-operated radio station, KLSP.
• Rodeo and other events: Angola Prison hosts a biannual rodeo, which features various contests, concession stands, and profits that benefit inmate education programs.
• Museum: The Angola Museum, located outside the prison's main gate, exhibits the history of the prison and includes the Justice Hall of Fame to honor guards, judges, and police officers connected to the facility.

Events

Angola Prison hosts several events throughout the year, including:

• Rodeo: The Angola Rodeo is a biannual event held in April and October, featuring inmates competing in riding skills on horses and bulls.
• Arts and Crafts Festival: This festival is held in conjunction with the rodeo and provides an opportunity for inmates to showcase their artistic talents.
• Angola Prison Horse Sale: Started in 2010, this event allows inmates to sell horses they have trained.
• Returning Hearts: An event where prisoners can spend up to eight hours with their children, creating a Carnival-like atmosphere.
• Malachi Dads: A year-long program based on biblical teachings to improve parenting skills for incarcerated fathers.

Frequently asked questions