Louisiana's Angola Prison: A Historical Misnomer Explained

The Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola, is a maximum-security prison located on former plantation land. The prison opened in 1901, but its origins as a prison date back to 1880 when inmates were housed in old slave quarters and worked on the plantation. The name Angola comes from the former cotton plantation that occupied the territory, which was, in turn, named after the African country that was the origin of many enslaved Africans brought to Louisiana.

The name originates from the country of Angola, the origin of enslaved people who worked the plantation

The Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola, is a sprawling facility that opened in 1901 on former plantation land. It is named after the country of Angola, which was the origin of many enslaved Africans brought to Louisiana. The plantation was named Angola, after the homeland of its former slaves.

The prison's origins date back to 1880 when inmates were housed in the old slave quarters and worked on the plantation. The state awarded the lease of the prison and its convicts to a former Confederate Army officer, Samuel L. James, who purchased several plantations, including Angola. The majority of black inmates were subleased to landowners to replace emancipated slaves, while white inmates were given clerical and craftsmanship work. Under this private prison system, profit was the priority, and the humane treatment of prisoners was ignored.

In 1898, a constitutional ban on convict leasing was adopted, and the state of Louisiana purchased the prison camp from the James family in 1900, assuming control in 1901. Despite the change in management, abuse and mismanagement continued. Angola became known as one of the hardest places to be incarcerated, with over 90% of inmates never leaving and dying within the prison walls.

Today, Angola is a maximum-security prison with approximately 6,300 prisoners and 1,800 staff members. It is the largest maximum-security prison in the United States and has been nicknamed the "Alcatraz of the South." The prison is located on an 18,000-acre site, bordered by swampland and the Mississippi River, making it a challenging place to escape from.

The prison was built on former plantation land

The Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola, was built on former plantation land. The prison's name comes from the Angola Plantation, one of four plantations on which it was constructed. The plantation, in turn, was named after the African country that was the origin of many enslaved Africans brought to Louisiana.

The Angola Plantation was originally an 8,000-acre plantation in West Feliciana Parish, in a remote region of Louisiana. The nearest town was 30 miles away. Before the Civil War, the plantation was owned by Isaac Franklin, who owned the largest slave-trading firm in the United States. In the 1830s, Franklin purchased the properties that were later consolidated as "Angola".

In 1880, the state awarded the lease of the Louisiana State Penitentiary and its convicts to former Confederate Army officer, Samuel L. James. James purchased several plantations across Louisiana, including the Angola Plantation. Inmates were housed in the old slave quarters and worked on the plantations. The majority of black inmates were subleased to landowners to replace emancipated slaves, while white inmates were given clerk and craftsmanship work. Under this private prison system, profit was the main concern, and inmate abuse was common.

In 1900, the State of Louisiana purchased the prison camp from the James family and resumed control of its prisoners in 1901, marking the beginning of state control of Angola Prison. Over the years, the prison has faced numerous problems due to its geography and administration. Floods in 1902, 1912, and 1922 destroyed crops, a key source of funding. During the Great Depression, the prison facilities fell into disrepair, and conditions became so harsh that 31 inmates sliced their Achilles tendons in protest.

By 2008, the prison had expanded to 18,000 acres, the size of Manhattan, and was a maximum-security facility with a predominantly African-American inmate population. Angola Prison has a complex place in the state's history and culture, with myths and misunderstandings interwoven with the true stories of its dark past.

The state took control of Angola in 1901

The Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola, has a long and complex history that dates back to the early 19th century. The state took control of Angola in 1901, but the story of this infamous prison begins much earlier.

In the years following the Civil War, Louisiana's economy was in ruins. Public pressure for transparent and profitable corrections had faded, and the state entered into a series of convict lease agreements. In 1870, former Confederate Major Samuel L. James was awarded the lease of the Louisiana State Penitentiary and all of its convicts. James purchased several plantations across Louisiana, including the original Angola Plantation, which was named after the homeland of its former slaves.

Under the convict lease system, inmates were forced to work under harsh and brutal conditions. The majority of black inmates were subleased to landowners to replace emancipated slaves, while white inmates were given more clerical and craftsmanship work. This system continued until 1898 when a constitutional ban on convict leasing was successfully adopted.

In 1900, the State of Louisiana purchased the prison camp from the James family and resumed control of its prisoners in 1901. This marked the beginning of state control of Angola, and conditions for inmates began to improve. However, mismanagement and economic pressures continued to plague the prison. Floods in 1902, 1912, and 1922 destroyed crops, which were a key source of funding for the penitentiary's operating costs.

Despite these challenges, Angola continued to operate as a prison. Over the years, it gained a reputation as one of the hardest places to be incarcerated, with a long history of brutality, racial division, and mismanagement. By the 1930s, inmate mortality rates were significantly high, and a mass escape led by outlaw Charlie Frazier shocked the state.

Today, Angola is a maximum-security prison managed and operated by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections. It is the largest maximum-security prison in the United States, with approximately 6,300 prisoners and 1,800 staff. The prison has grown to 18,000 acres and is known for its high percentage of prisoners serving life without parole.

Angola was known as one of the hardest places to be incarcerated

The Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola, is a sprawling facility that opened in 1901 on former plantation land. Throughout much of the 20th century, Angola was known as one of the hardest places to be incarcerated, with a dark history of American justice and racial division.

Angola's origins as a prison date back to 1880 when inmates were housed in old slave quarters and forced to work on the plantation. The state awarded the lease of the prison and its convicts to a former Confederate Army officer, who purchased several plantations across Louisiana, including Angola. The majority of black inmates were subleased to landowners, while white inmates were given less physically demanding work. Under this private prison system, profit was the main concern, and the humane treatment of prisoners was ignored. In fact, inmates often suffered worse abuse under the convict lease arrangements than under the abolished slavery system.

In 1898, a constitutional ban on convict leasing was successfully adopted, and the state of Louisiana resumed control of the prison in 1901. However, mismanagement and poor economic conditions continued to plague Angola. The prison was bounded on three sides by the Mississippi River, and in 1902, 1912, and 1922, floods destroyed the crops, a key source of funding for the penitentiary. During the Great Depression, the prison facilities fell into disrepair, and conditions became so harsh that 31 inmates sliced their Achilles tendons in protest of the hard labour and brutality they were subjected to.

Angola continued to face challenges in the following decades, earning a reputation as the bloodiest prison in the South due to the high rate of inmate assaults in the 1960s. Over 90% of inmates who are convicted and sent to Angola will die within the premises, with many buried in the allocated graveyard within the prison grounds. Angola is the largest maximum-security prison in the country, with the highest percentage of prisoners serving life without parole. It is so large that it is the only prison with its own zip code.

Angola's harsh conditions, high mortality rates, and history of brutality have contributed to its reputation as one of the hardest places to be incarcerated.

The prison is now managed and operated by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections

The Louisiana State Penitentiary, commonly known as Angola, is currently managed and operated by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections (DPS&C). The DPS&C is a state law enforcement agency that oversees the incarceration of inmates and the management of state prison facilities within Louisiana. The agency is headquartered in Baton Rouge and is led by a secretary appointed by the governor of Louisiana.

The DPS&C is organised into two major areas: Public Safety Services and Corrections Services. The secretary oversees the functioning and control of all programs within the department, including the formulation of rules, regulations, and policies related to management, personnel, and operations. The Corrections Services division, also known as the Department of Corrections, is specifically responsible for the custody of adult inmates across the state.

The history of Angola is complex and marked by periods of reform and decline. The prison was established in the 1800s, with the state purchasing the Angola Plantation in 1900 and resuming control of its prisoners in 1901. The prison has faced challenges due to its geography, with floods repeatedly destroying crops and impacting its funding. During the Great Depression, budget cuts led to a deterioration in conditions, prompting inmate protests and a mass escape in 1933.

In the 1950s, the state invested in renovations and new camps, but by the 1960s, Angola was again facing difficulties. It earned a reputation as "the bloodiest prison in the South" due to the high rate of inmate assaults. Reforms were implemented, and by the 1990s, the prison was accredited by the American Correctional Association. Today, Angola has expanded to 18,000 acres and is a maximum-security prison, with a primarily African-American inmate population and an all-white officer staff.

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