AngolaAngola

Louisiana State PenitentiaryLouisiana State Penitentiary

Modern Day Proof That Prison Modern Day Proof That Prison Programming WorksProgramming Works

A Rich HistoryA Rich History

LSP first built in Baton Rouge (circa 1835)LSP first built in Baton Rouge (circa 1835)

Angola – Named after the Africa country where Angola – Named after the Africa country where the the slaves that once occupied the land slaves that once occupied the land came fromcame from

Leased inmatesLeased inmates

Plantation purchased in 1880Plantation purchased in 1880

History cont.History cont.

Period of inmate brutality lead to public outcryPeriod of inmate brutality lead to public outcry

End of the inmate lease systemEnd of the inmate lease system

State of Louisiana claimed inmates in 1901State of Louisiana claimed inmates in 1901

1916 – Creation of inmate trustees1916 – Creation of inmate trustees

Penitentiary expanded to current size of 18,000 Penitentiary expanded to current size of 18,000 acres in 1922acres in 1922

History cont.History cont.

Brutality boiled over in 1952 – Achilles’ IncidentBrutality boiled over in 1952 – Achilles’ Incident

Media attention drew reformMedia attention drew reform

Inmate Trustee system eliminated in 1972Inmate Trustee system eliminated in 1972

Programming evolutionProgramming evolution

Prison Structure and Prison Structure and ArchitectureArchitecture

DormitoriesDormitories

Single Sided CorridorsSingle Sided Corridors

V-HousesV-Houses

Small HomeSmall Home

Death Row and Segregation UnitsDeath Row and Segregation Units

Treatment of InmatesTreatment of Inmates

Levels of earned freedom and trustLevels of earned freedom and trust General PopulationGeneral Population Big StripesBig Stripes TrusteesTrustees

Civil treatment lead to reciprocation Civil treatment lead to reciprocation

Civil Treatment of InmatesCivil Treatment of Inmates

Correctional officers seemed less likely to Correctional officers seemed less likely to have preconceived ideashave preconceived ideas

Open as long as the respect was mutualOpen as long as the respect was mutual

Illinois – Treatment as substandard humansIllinois – Treatment as substandard humans Leads to…Leads to…

Inmate distrustInmate distrust Lack of cooperationLack of cooperation Lack of motivationLack of motivation

Civil Treatment of InmatesCivil Treatment of Inmates Soft on Crime ArgumentSoft on Crime Argument

Trustee leewayTrustee leeway Segregation Segregation

proceduresprocedures Status Status

earned earned

ProgramsPrograms

S.T.E.P literacy trainingS.T.E.P literacy training

License Plate ProductionLicense Plate Production

Religious ProgrammingReligious Programming BaptistBaptist

““The Rodeo”The Rodeo”

Programs Unique to AngolaPrograms Unique to Angola

FarmingFarming FOLKES Vocation CollegeFOLKES Vocation College Toy ShopToy Shop The AngoliteThe Angolite New Orleans Baptist Theological New Orleans Baptist Theological

SeminarySeminary Associate and Baccalaureate DegreesAssociate and Baccalaureate Degrees Volunteer BasisVolunteer Basis

Programming as SecurityProgramming as Security

Idle hands are the devils workIdle hands are the devils work

Standardized work weeksStandardized work weeks

StructureStructure

Privileges that come with hard laborPrivileges that come with hard labor Living ConditionsLiving Conditions Job OpportunitiesJob Opportunities

Programming as SecurityProgramming as Security

ParticipationParticipation

Low WagesLow Wages Extremely low compared to IllinoisExtremely low compared to Illinois

Effects of not workingEffects of not working

Working side by sideWorking side by side

Programming FocusProgramming Focus

Self BettermentSelf Betterment Possible RetributionPossible Retribution Supplement prison fundingSupplement prison funding

The AngoliteThe Angolite FarmFarm RodeoRodeo

““The Rodeo”The Rodeo”

““The Rodeo”The Rodeo”

Work for inmatesWork for inmates

Ethical dilemmas facedEthical dilemmas faced Bribery of inmatesBribery of inmates Inmate abuseInmate abuse Inmate exploitationInmate exploitation Improper usage of funds Improper usage of funds

Exploitation???Exploitation???

Difference in SystemsDifference in Systems

How Angola differs from IllinoisHow Angola differs from Illinois ProactiveProactive Programs that are self-sufficientPrograms that are self-sufficient Politically active employeesPolitically active employees Union less of a forceUnion less of a force VolunteerismVolunteerism Faith based initiativesFaith based initiatives

Thoughts for IllinoisThoughts for Illinois

Change in policy on volunteerismChange in policy on volunteerism

Political ActivismPolitical Activism

If change in programming occursIf change in programming occurs What is needed?What is needed?

Recidivism studies on those involved in Recidivism studies on those involved in programsprograms

Increased volunteerismIncreased volunteerism Adequate separation of faith and governmentAdequate separation of faith and government