Torture At Louisiana State Penitentiary-Angola
Jordan Flaherty, author of "Torture At Louisiana State Penitentiary-Angola," is a journalist in New Orleans and is also editor of "Left Turn Magazine." In this next article, Jordan talks about the abuse and assault that goes on behind the scenes in Angola. He also states examples to back up statements stated by the Warden himself and other judges/guards.
The Louisiana State Penitentiary is already well known for it's widespread and systematic abuse at it's prison. The behavior that has been documented from the Penitentiary stands out for its brutality and evidence that is was encouraged from the very top of the chain of command. This prison is also well known for keeping Black Panthers Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox in solitary for over 36 years.
Twenty five inmates testified for an overwhelming amount of violence after an escape attempt at the prison almost nearly a decade ago. However, these twenty five inmates whom are being harassed and beaten almost to death, did not have any part in the attempt. Yet, these twenty five have been kicked, punched, beaten with batons, stepped on, left naked in freezing cells, and threatened to be killed by the guards. They claim the guards have also threatened that the would sexually assault them with batons and forced to urinate on themselves. Some of the inmates had teeth knocked out, and were beaten until they signed statements or confessions presented to them by prison officials.
Prison officials continue to be in denial about the policy of abuse. However, the prisoner's who gave statements, had medical records of the injuries, and other evidence for the trial were each given $7,000 from the state to initiate the prisoner's civil rights.
Systemic Violence
The State has zero guidelines for what should happen if an escape or crisis occurs. When the attempted escape occurred, guards were able to engage with a violence response because Warden Burl Cain was absent at the time. Cain later mentioned, "That's a message all of the inmates know. They just forgot it. And now they know it again." There are currently five prisoners on trial facing the death penalty.
The State Francisville Hearing
Mathis was charged for murder and is currently one of the five on trial for the death penalty. His defense was requested to demonstrate that, in the climate and abuse, inmates were forced to sign statements through torture and therefore those statements should be admissible. Judge George H. Ware, Jr. stated that the documented torture was irrelevant, but the behavior documented in the hearing raised many strong doubts about the cases against the Angola Five. However, these cases are also proving how much of an issue violence has become at Angola.
Solitary Confinement
The use of solitary confinement as punishment for political views has been misused when it comes to the cases of Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox. Both Wallace and Woodfox have spent more than 36 years in solitary and although a judge recently overturned Woodfox's convictions, prison authorities decided to continue to hold him for a re-try. Woodfox and Wallace have filed a civil suit against Angola arguing that their confinement has violated both their 8th amendment rights against cruel and unusual punishment and 4th amendment right to due process. Burl Cain's view on this subject perfectly states that Woodfox and Wallace are being punished for their political views.
Louisiana's criminal justice system has the highest incarceration rate in the world, is functioning under plantation-style justice. Torture and abuse is illegal under both U.S. law, however, despite the laws and treaties, U.S. prison guards have rarely been held accountable to these standards.
Despite the hearings, civil suits, and other documentation, the guards who performed the acts documented in the hearing on torture at Angola remain unpunished, and the system that designed it remains in place. In fact, many of the guards have been promoted and remain in supervisory capacity over the same inmates they were documented to have beaten mercilessly.
The Louisiana State Penitentiary is already well known for it's widespread and systematic abuse at it's prison. The behavior that has been documented from the Penitentiary stands out for its brutality and evidence that is was encouraged from the very top of the chain of command. This prison is also well known for keeping Black Panthers Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox in solitary for over 36 years.
Twenty five inmates testified for an overwhelming amount of violence after an escape attempt at the prison almost nearly a decade ago. However, these twenty five inmates whom are being harassed and beaten almost to death, did not have any part in the attempt. Yet, these twenty five have been kicked, punched, beaten with batons, stepped on, left naked in freezing cells, and threatened to be killed by the guards. They claim the guards have also threatened that the would sexually assault them with batons and forced to urinate on themselves. Some of the inmates had teeth knocked out, and were beaten until they signed statements or confessions presented to them by prison officials.
Prison officials continue to be in denial about the policy of abuse. However, the prisoner's who gave statements, had medical records of the injuries, and other evidence for the trial were each given $7,000 from the state to initiate the prisoner's civil rights.
Systemic Violence
The State has zero guidelines for what should happen if an escape or crisis occurs. When the attempted escape occurred, guards were able to engage with a violence response because Warden Burl Cain was absent at the time. Cain later mentioned, "That's a message all of the inmates know. They just forgot it. And now they know it again." There are currently five prisoners on trial facing the death penalty.
The State Francisville Hearing
Mathis was charged for murder and is currently one of the five on trial for the death penalty. His defense was requested to demonstrate that, in the climate and abuse, inmates were forced to sign statements through torture and therefore those statements should be admissible. Judge George H. Ware, Jr. stated that the documented torture was irrelevant, but the behavior documented in the hearing raised many strong doubts about the cases against the Angola Five. However, these cases are also proving how much of an issue violence has become at Angola.
Solitary Confinement
The use of solitary confinement as punishment for political views has been misused when it comes to the cases of Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox. Both Wallace and Woodfox have spent more than 36 years in solitary and although a judge recently overturned Woodfox's convictions, prison authorities decided to continue to hold him for a re-try. Woodfox and Wallace have filed a civil suit against Angola arguing that their confinement has violated both their 8th amendment rights against cruel and unusual punishment and 4th amendment right to due process. Burl Cain's view on this subject perfectly states that Woodfox and Wallace are being punished for their political views.
Louisiana's criminal justice system has the highest incarceration rate in the world, is functioning under plantation-style justice. Torture and abuse is illegal under both U.S. law, however, despite the laws and treaties, U.S. prison guards have rarely been held accountable to these standards.
Despite the hearings, civil suits, and other documentation, the guards who performed the acts documented in the hearing on torture at Angola remain unpunished, and the system that designed it remains in place. In fact, many of the guards have been promoted and remain in supervisory capacity over the same inmates they were documented to have beaten mercilessly.