July 12th 2024.
A significant development has recently taken place in the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, which may bring about a much-needed change in the way incarcerated individuals are treated. As reported by WAFB, a federal judge has issued a ruling on July 3rd, ordering the facility to establish a memorandum that proposes solutions to ensure the safety of inmates who work on the prison's Farm-Line. This ruling comes after years of concerns raised by various groups about the inhumane conditions that inmates are subjected to while working on the farm.
Ronald Marshall, Chief Policy Analyst at VOTE, spoke about the conditions that inmates are forced to endure. He described how they are closely monitored by officers on horseback, armed with shotguns, while they work in the fields under the scorching sun without proper safety gear or fair wages. Many of them suffer from near-death injuries and heat exhaustion, which Marshall witnessed firsthand. He expressed his relief that this ruling is a crucial step towards protecting the well-being of these men.
In a separate matter, a federal court filing revealed the dire situation faced by young inmates in the Louisiana prison. The Associated Press reports that they not only have to endure extreme heat, but they are also subjected to isolation and a lack of basic services such as clean water and schooling. Advocates are now urging for these juveniles to be moved to a better facility, away from the Angola prison, which was previously used as a death row prison.
The court filing also stated that officials had failed to fulfill their promise of placing the inmates in a constitutionally acceptable facility by spring 2023. As a result, the advocates are now seeking an order to end the housing of juveniles at the Angola facility and have them relocated. They claim that the defendants had promised safe and sanitary conditions but failed to deliver, leaving the young inmates confined in cells with only a metal bed and toilet, unclean faucets, and no access to drinkable water. The extreme heat in the housing areas was also left unaddressed, putting the inmates' health at risk.
Affidavits from three inmates were provided by attorneys working with the American Civil Liberties Union and other inmate advocates, detailing the unsanitary conditions and mistreatment they have endured. One inmate reported being slammed against a wall by a correctional officer and being exposed to chemical irritants used on another prisoner. The heat has also been described as unbearable, with temperatures frequently reaching above 100 degrees and sometimes as high as 130 degrees.
Experts have also weighed in on the matter, highlighting the physical and psychological dangers that these young inmates face. Dr. Susi Vassallo stated that the prolonged solitary confinement can cause serious psychological harm, while another expert raised concerns about the lack of air conditioning and unreliable fans in the cells. The risk of physical and psychological harm is even higher during the summer months in Louisiana, as noted by Dr. Vassallo.
This issue was first brought to light in summer 2022 when a lawsuit was filed questioning the prison's ability to protect and provide adequate services for these juveniles. The attorneys involved in the case also pointed out the disproportionate impact on Black youth, as 83% of youth in OJJ's secure care system are Black. This transfer plan proposed by the Governor would only further exacerbate this issue. The recent ruling by the federal judge brings hope that the well-being of these young inmates will finally be prioritized and necessary changes will be made to ensure their safety and proper treatment.
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