- State Prison
- Louisiana
- 225-655-4411
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LA DOC – Louisiana State Penitentiary basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 225-655-4411
This facility is for adult inmates.
The inmates housed at LA State Penitentiary located at 17544 Tunica Trace in Angola, LA are placed according to their custody level (determined by a number of factors including the past criminal history and the length of their sentence). There are ample educational and vocational training programs for all inmates, especially ones that show a willingness to learn new things that will prepare them for a better life when they are released. The mission is to promote and prepare the offender to leave in better shape than when they arrived, giving them the best chance to never come back and thus lower the state's recidivism rate.
The Louisiana State Penitentiary (also known as Angola, and nicknamed the "Alcatraz of the South", "The Angola Plantation" and "The Farm") is a maximum-security prison farm in Louisiana operated by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections. It is named "Angola" after the former plantation that occupied this territory. The plantation was named for the African country that was the origin of many slaves brought to Louisiana.
Angola is the largest maximum-security prison in the United States with 6,300 prisoners and 1,800 staff, including corrections officers, janitors, maintenance, and wardens. Located in West Feliciana Parish, the prison is set between oxbow lakes on the east side of a bend of the Mississippi River, so it is surrounded on three sides by water. It lies less than two miles south of Louisiana's straight east-west border with Mississippi. The 18,000-acre of land the prison sits on was known before the American Civil War as the Angola Plantations. The prison is located at the end of Louisiana Highway 66, around 22 miles northwest of St. Francisville.
Over half of the inmates in this prison are serving life sentences also is also home to the states male death row inmates. Due to the large population of inmates, and the length of many inmates sentences, this facility has a hospice program in addition to the medical and mental health programs offered. This is one of the largest correctional facilities, with segregation units, disciplinary units, extended lockdown cellblocks, a death row unit, reception center, 16 medium and minimum custody dormitories, maximum custody units, multiple out-camps, and even has it's own fire station and airfield.
The Penitentiary has educational and vocational programs that allow inmates to earn a GED and adult basic education and teach carpentry, welding, horticulture, culinary skills, automotive repair, HVAC, electrical, and industrial painting.
Educational Programming – Through partnerships with the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Ashland University and the Louisiana Department of Education, Louisiana State Penitentiary provides opportunities for participation in the following educational programs:
- NOBTS (N.O. Baptist Theological Seminary)
- Ashland University (Bachelor's degree in general studies)
- ABE/GED/HiSET
- Literacy
- SSD#1 (Special School District)
- P.R.E.P. Pre-Release Exit Program
- Carpentry
- Culinary Arts
- Horticulture
- Welding
Reentry and Rehabilitative Program
- Automotive Technology – ASE Certification
- Building and General Construction
- Collision Repair – ASE Certification
- Corrections Reentry Court Workforce Program
- Electrician
- HVAC Excellence Certification
- Outdoor Power Equipment
- Print Ed Certification
- NCCER Certification — Carpentry, Welding, Heating and Air Conditioning, Electrical, Industrial Painting, Concrete Finishing and Brick Masonry
- Eyeglass Repair
Inmate quarters – The state of Louisiana considers Angola to be a multi-security institution; 29% of the prison's beds are designated for maximum security inmates. The inmates live in several housing units scattered across the Angola grounds. By the 1990s air conditioning and heating units had been installed in the inmate housing units. Most inmates live in dormitories instead of cell blocks. The prison administration states that this is because having "inmates of all ages and with long sentences [to] live this way encourages cooperation and healthy peer relationships."
Main Prison Complex – The Main Prison Complex consists of the East Yard and the West Yard. The East Yard has 16 minimum and medium custody prisoner dormitories and one maximum custody extended lockdown cellblock; the cellblock houses long-term extended-lockdown prisoners, in-transit administrative segregation prisoners, inmates who need mental health attention, and protective-custody inmates.
The West Yard has 16 minimum and medium custody prisoner dormitories, two administrative segregation cellblocks, and the prison treatment center. The treatment center houses geriatric, hospice, and ill in-transit prisoners. As of 2000, the main prison complex houses half of Angola's prisoners.
Dormitories within the main prison include the Ash, Cypress, Hickory, Magnolia, Oak, Pine, Spruce, and Walnut dormitories. The cell blocks are A, B, C, and D. The main prison also houses the local Main Prison administration building, a gymnasium, a kitchen/dining facility, the Angola Vocational School, and the Judge Henry A. Politz Educational building.
Outcamps – Angola also has several outcamps. Camp C includes eight minimum and medium custody dormitories, one cellblock with administrative segregation and working cellblock prisoners, and one extended lockdown cellblock. Camp C includes the Bear and Wolf dormitories and Jaguar and Tiger cellblocks.
Camp D has the same features as Camp C, except that it has one working cellblock instead of an extended lockdown cellblock, and its other cellblock does not have working prisoners. Camp D houses the Eagle and Falcon dormitories and the Hawk and Raven cellblocks.
Camp J has four extended lockdown cellblocks, which contain prisoners with disciplinary problems, and one dormitory with minimum and medium custody inmates who provide housekeeping functions for Camp J. Camp J houses the Alligator, Barracuda, Gar, and Shark cellblocks.
Camp F has four minimum custody dormitories and the "Dog Pen," which houses 11 minimum custody inmates. All of the prisoners housed in Camp F are trustees who mop floors, deliver food to fellow prisoners, and perform other support tasks. Camp F also houses Angola's execution chamber. Camp F has a lake where trustees fish.
The Close Cell Restricted (CCR) unit, an isolation unit located near the Angola main entrance, has 101 isolation cells and 40 trustee beds.
Reception Center and Death Row – The Reception Center, the closest prison housing building to the main entrance, acts as a reception center for arriving prisoners. It is located to the right of the main highway, inside the main gate. In addition, it contains the death row for male inmates in Louisiana, with 101 extended lockdown cells housing condemned inmates. The death row facility has a central room and multiple tiers. The entrance to each tier includes a locked door and color photographs of the prisoners located in each tier. Death row includes eight tiers, lettered A to G. Seven tiers have 15 cells each, while one tier has 11 cells. Each hallway has a cell that is used for showering. The death row houses exercise areas with basketball posts. The death row facility was constructed in 2006 and there is no air conditioning or cross ventilation. In addition, the Reception Center has one minimum custody dormitory with inmates who provide housekeeping for the facility.
visitation Info
LA DOC – Louisiana State Prison – Visitation
The administration of Louisiana State Penitentiary views visiting as a vital aspect of an offender’s rehabilitation process. This connection to family and friends allows the offender to make a smooth transition to prison life and helps him adapt to society and family life upon release from custody.
Upon his arrival at LSP, an offender must submit a list of individuals with whom he wishes to visit. Once approved, this list becomes their official visiting list. Only the visitors who appear on this (current) approved visiting list are allowed to visit. Children under the age of eighteen may visit, but must be accompanied at all times by an adult listed on the offender’s approved visiting list.
Visiting days/hours:
- Visiting days are Friday through Sunday from 6:00 a.m., until 4:15 p.m.
- Visitors should plan their arrival prior to 2:00 p.m., at which time the bus makes its final departure to the visiting area(s).
NOTE: On the rare occasion when there are five Sundays in a given month, there will be no visiting on that Sunday or the Saturday preceding it. There will only be visiting on that Friday only.
Length of Visits: Each offender is afforded a two-hour visit on any visiting day. The Warden or designee retains the discretion to determine the duration of visits based on available space and staff.
Number of Visitors: An offender is allowed ten approved visitors plus one religious advisor on his list. Each visitor on the approved visiting list will be permitted to visit twice a month. Each offender is allowed to visit with up five visitors, including children, at one time.
Visitor Searches: All visitors are subject to a search of their vehicles, possessions and persons. This is necessary to preclude the introduction of weapons, ammunition, explosives, cell phones, alcohol, escape devices, drugs and drug paraphernalia or other forbidden items or contraband into the prison environment. All searches of visitors will be conducted in accordance with Department Regulation No. C-02-005 and Penitentiary Directive No. 09.004, and 09.004A.
Visitors will be allowed to take the following to the visiting area:
- Wallet or clutch purse with no more than $300.00 cash money;
- Nitroglycerine tablets (must remain on the person);
- Prescription medication in the original container (to be given to the bus driver and kept at the security counter and returned to the visitor at Front Gate Visiting by the bus driver. Medication should be limited in quantity to no more than that required for the duration of the visit);
- Prescription asthma spray (to remain on the person);
- Small amount of candy, if diabetic;
- One car key (remote car locks are allowed if they are attached to the key ring);
- If the visitor has a baby, the following items will be permitted: Up to 4 diapers; 2 jars vacuum-sealed baby food; 2 bottles of milk or juice; 1 change of clothing; 1 diaper bag; 1 baby blanket, maximum width or length not to exceed 48 inches.
- Wallet-size photos
NOTE: No items listed above can be left with the offender at the termination of the visit.
Visitor Dress Code
Visiting areas are designed to cultivate a family atmosphere for family and friends of all ages. Visitors should dress and act accordingly. The following apparel is considered inappropriate and shall result in the denial of visits:
- Clothing that is similar in appearance to the clothing worn by the offender population; male and female visitors shall not wear denim or chambray shirts, gray, blue or white sweatshirts, or white t-shirts; male visitors must wear underwear; female visitors must wear bra and panties;
- Undergarments, underwear and bra, must not be visible. Underwear must be worn by all visitors;
- Clothing that is similar in appearance to the clothing worn by correctional officers (i.e. camouflage, blue BDU's, etc.);
- Transparent clothing;
- Swimming suits;
- Skirts, shorts, and dresses shorter than one inch above the knee cap or those with revealing slits;
- Strapless, tube and halter tops, tank tops and strapless dresses;
- Tops that expose the midriff;
- Blouses, shirts, and dresses that are low cut;
- Spandex, Lycra or spandex-like athletic pants, aerobic/exercise tights or leotards;
- Clothing with revealing holes or tears one inch above the knee cap;
- Clothing or accessories with obscene or profane writing, images or pictures;
- Gang or club-related clothing or insignia indicative of gang affiliation;
- House slippers and shower shoes and flip flops are not allowed. Footwear must remain on feet at all times. These restrictions apply to all visitors.
- Hats or other head coverings are not permitted, except as required by religious beliefs.
Identification: All approved visitors must have in their possession a picture ID (valid state-issued driver’s license or state-issued ID card obtained through the Department of Motor Vehicles). All visitors 15 years of age and above must have a picture ID in order to visit an offender.
Other Accepted Forms of Picture ID: Passport, Military, Law Enforcement, College/University, School Identification