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So basically Angola is the longest running plantation in American history.

I served 27 years in prison, in Georgia, on a sentence of life plus 30 years for felony murder and trafficking cocaine. While I was incarcerated my son got a life sentence in Louisiana and he's at Angola. In Louisiana a life sentence means exactly that, which is unfair to me. I know how much I changed while in prison and I'm thankful for a second chance. With that chance I've become a 15X published author and a successful publisher. Without a second chance all of these men can't ever atone.

This was the one place that my dad took me to when I was lil, to visit someone, that made me build up a mindset that I never wanted to be in ANY jail system.

Young people this is reality. As tough as you are this will become reality. Nothing here is a goal. Take witness. do not become witness or victim. Choose positive actions to make a better future.

That place ain't no joke. I went there my senior year for a field trip. And the prisoners that were there to speak with us. Keep saying over and over again while we was there. To stay in your books and stay out of the prison system.

I'm shook that this prison is called Angola. The fact that this former plantation, history of prison slave labor, is nicknamed after the first country African slaves were stolen from. It's as if the system is mocking emancipation, "Oh you want to go back to Africa, I got your Africa. Welcome to Angola. Get back to work."

"Who did you kill?"......"My wife." Whelp, that escalated quickly. Shit!

They are criminals but you can’t tell me watching this doesn’t make you uncomfortable. A moment in time is not definition of character

Despite the tough sentencing laws, the murder rate in Louisiana has been higher than any other state for the last 30 consecutive years.

When someone after 30 years still says he didn’t do it, he’s probably telling the truth

When I was a teenager, I got in trouble a lot. I eventually ended up at an alternative school and on probation. The alternative school took us on a field trip to angola. At that time, Angola only housed criminals serving life sentences. So everyone there,at that time,was never getting out. They’ve obviously changed that now. It was a very interesting experience. One thing that stands out was "the hole” There was a small building in the middle of the field. It’s just a one room building. Very small, and it was where they would put an inmate when they got in trouble. One door and one small window. No glass in the window and no air conditioning. All alone in the middle of a big field separate from the prison. Whatever food that was being served to the inmates that day would be put in a blender and served that way to whoever was out in that building. The whole meal blended and then baked. If there was dessert with dinner, then that would be blended together with the meal too. It seemed like it would be torture. Being in this concrete building in the middle of the field with the hot Louisiana sun beaming down and served slop for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There had to be some kind of human rights violations going on. They probably don’t do it anymore. That was one part of the visit that I always remembered very well.

Visited Angola a few years back and met these guys. Completely changed my opinion on capital punishment. Who many of these men were are not who they are now.

I did 10 years(2000-2010)on a unit in texas where the average sentence was 40years. I lost count of how many dudes I met that will never see the light of day. Sadly, these dudes are the only ones that seem to get it. Guys that get shorter time never seem to realize that their lifestyle is Bull$hit......until its too late! I wish more people would take these old timers advice and take advantage at a 2nd chance they will never get!

"Pulled ova, no seat belt on the shoulder, led to long stay in Angola" -ZRO

Any y'all reading this who have Netflix need to watch the movie "13th".

For the life of me, I can't tell if the reporter is saying what Angola & Warden Cain has done is good or bad. When he got there, it was the bloodiest, most violent prison in the US. He also doesn't mention that the prisoners grow most of there own food or that Cain speaks at many parole hearings for prisoners. Yes, it's still a max prison but it's a hell of a better place than it was. Or compared to many other prisons.

Every sinner have a future and every saint have a past.

For those who have not heard of the story of the 'Angola 3', Google it. Shocking. Those of us outside of America looking in, seeing how children are sent to Supermax prisons, children are thrown into institutions like Rikers and held indefinitely in solitary confinement , mostly black men are sent down for life to work on modern day plantations (Angola was a former plantation and named after the country from which most of the slaves were captured). The American justice/prison system is an utter disgrace. “It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.”

I overturn those words they never gonna go home 🏡..My uncle will b back his mom is 90 still alive 🙏🏽🙏🏽#Free Patrick Levier .We Love u 4Life

There's like a 99.9 percent chance they are working where their forefathers worked

The man is riding a mule! What year is this? The plantation has never left Louisiana! The US allows this process. What is wrong with America and the salvation & control of black bodies. Give help AFTER they commit a crime. Mind blogging!!!

Big homie TREY da OG coming home after 30 yrs another 17 days n counting, last 27 yrs in Angola now make the most of next 30 yrs on outside. #17daysncounting

They may be criminals but they are still people. You can't reform everyone I know that, but some you can like these people here and that's a good thing. Bravo.

Some of these guys serving life sentences should be given a second chance depending on the individual. They could be out in the free world doing counseling to misguided youth who might even prevent one of them from committing murder

In the gulf coast all prison's are like this you don't grow nothing you don't eat nothing

I would rather work outside than languish in a tiny cell.

Many of the guys in Angola with life sentences should have their sentences commuted to time already served. They're truly changed men and are no longer a threat to society.

It wasn't a plantation. It was a slave 'breeding' facility, like they breed horses. When the children were old enough, like six years old, they were put on the block, and if someone wanted to buy them, they'd be taken from their mothers. Sentences in Louisiana are the harshest in America.

I remember going here in like 8th grade. Scared the shit out of me.

Seeing these Inmates in the Automotive shop without an officer with all those weapons.... The warden is doing a GREAT JOB 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

When quavo said “all these damn chains modern slavey but this ain’t 1800 so they pay me” i know these inmates felt that

Slavery never left Louisiana

I have a cousin who served 13 years in the state of Tennessee on a second degree murder charge he would have had a mandatory life sentence without parole in Louisiana that’s crazy!!

2 cents a hour damn when I was upstate they was paying 17cents and the dudes who ran laundry made $400 a month

This prison is is about rehabilitation and discipline. Tell me, what other prisons has this many rehab programs.

I trained there to become a corrections officer a week after the filming of the Monster Ball movie.. I never forget that place..

when they said the warden was an "unlikely character" I was expecting him to be wearing a white suit with a top hat and cane.

Damn hes still the warden i remeber him being the warden back in 1998

It is hard watching inmates who have served vast amounts of time and who really do seem to be rehabilitated, just rotting in jail and not being allowed to volunteer/ work back in the community. Burl Cain should institute a "scared straight" program for young Louisiana offenders who are at real risk of ending up in Angola & this program should be a 2 week (not 2 hours) "Boot Camp" run by Trustees that show young criminals what being locked up for life really entails.

“Correct Deviant Behavior” Parents need to PREVENT deviant behavior

I think these guys are making the best of an awful situation. The warden is giving these guys a chance to have a somewhat normal life despite being locked up.

This video should be shown in schools to show them that its a better way than just Jail/prison

Very interesting, thanks for sharing

Louisiana and Mississippi besides city centers are all stuck in the 1800's.

THIS is great journalism, really excellent video

Building this chapel was the greatest honor God allowed me. The altar was painted by Miguel VElez who killed Barry Seals. I have been going to Angola for 21 plus years, and thank God when Warden Cain allowed me and a dear friend the honor to build this chapel, it provides a place were inmates can visit and find meaning for their lives.

I live less than 200 miles from Angola and have been to it many times. One of my cousins is serving a life sentence there. Lousiana has the highest rate of recidivism (people returning to prison) in the world.

Kinda weird that this tries to positively spin Angola as "fixed"

Formally a prison known for its high rates of violence, the over all quality of life as well as inmate safety has drastically improved since this warden took over and started giving people something to do with their hands and minds. Flip side of the coin.

The sort of disconnect is kinda wild. All those people serving a life sentence, and it's irrelevant if they would ever hurt anyone again. But on the other hand, inside the prison it's clearly acknowledged that they are decent trustworthy people

Ive noticed that there arent many people from out of state there. I remember watching a documentary about Angola. It was so sad to see mothers crying sons dying and just the hopelessness of the situation. I realize they have committed horrible crimes. Some probably belong there. But u have some who dont.

5:53 Using religion as control.

Been to Angola now for 7 years I go as a volunteer teaching people about the millwright craft and those guys I’m teaching are some the most reliable and respectful people I have ever met I’ll level with y’all I’m in favor of the death penalty because I believe there are certain crimes you can’t come back from (pedophilia) but the men I teach and train are people I wish I had on my crew on the outside, thankfully one of the men was given a second shot at life by getting the opportunity for parole and he now works for the state but I know that he isnt the only one in there who should leave

Imagine that, give a man a purpose and he will change his life.

All of your videos on your website is down, you guys should put them all on KZfaq

Bro my entire life has been a lie. This can’t be real I’m dead

Didn’t the famous led belly do time there ? I think parchment prison down Mississippi held other blues legends like booker white .My mama grew in Shreveport, Louisiana is one of the strictest laws in the land with heavy sentences.

Everyone praising this warden, how he's helping them. It's all a front for literal slavery. While it may be helpful to the prisoners in some capacity, it just further deepens and reinforces the rascim in America. It also doesn't matter if they get rehabed, they're in for life anyway. If they're rehabed, why not let them go then? Oh right, free labour, sounds an awful lot like something that was happening about 200 years ago.

One of the weirdest things about the LA justice system is that you dont need a unanimous verdict to be found guilty.

This man (the warden) has the ingredients of a meal he had with a man he put to death on his shelf as a souvenir...wtf

More prisons need to implement the work program at Angola. The 2 inmates that were working in the field said nothing negative. In fact, one said "I love it." I grew up in Louisiana going to the Angola Rodeo, and you had the ability to interact with the inmates who would sell the goods (furniture, paintings, leather purses, leather shoes, jewelry, etc.) made in the work program. All the inmates were very appreciative of the skills they learned there and acknowledged working was much better than being stuck in their cells. The prison "slavery" is a fabrication.

Free Cee!!

Interesting/informative/entertaining. Excellent photography job enabling viewers to better understand what the orator is describing. Along with guest speakers adding more description to the presentation.😉.

I always wondered how white people got us so called "Negro" to worship a white jesus and bow I have a pretty good picture of it.

What about what they grow? What is the output? Where does it go? Is it for profit or rehabilitation and how do you motivate those who don't want to work to a deadline if it is a business? Is there a rotation or does it depend on length of sentence? Who is selected or who volunteers and why?

to all them youngsters ain't no pistol in there,

Lil boosie brought me here 🙌

2 cent a hour 18 cent for 8 hours ...I will not ask for a raise tomorrow on my job 😂

Wow Louisiana has harsh sentencing laws hopefully people who think about committing a crime watch this video first so they can see what happens when you commit a crime always think twice before you commit a crime especially in the Louisiana

Life in Louisiana means life. Due to "mandatory minimums" (minimum amount of time you can be sentenced to) the minimum you can serve is life. And life is without the benefit of parole or probation for most offenses like murder.

I was in Angola in the 70's, the Cubans came in, rescued us, took us to Havana, set us free, been here since. I miss Angola.

I know more than one person who has had choice of serving their shorter sentence at parish prison or Angola and have chosen Angola because of work programs, rodeos etc....problem in Louisiana is stopping crime not prisons...we have worst state for schools etc especially in cities ( New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport) Don’t know the stats but basically if u can’t afford private or charter schools within these city limits then u are in a bind

I've worked there and the majority of the prisoners there look forward to working to get outside.

Warden looking like something straight out of Berserk

I was a Sergeant at Louisiana State Penitentiary (Angola). Fascinating article.. But, Cain has been gone for a while. What are your excuses now for the inhumane treatment of the offenders and THE STAFF. 😢😢

They seem like much more disciplined prisoners than in other states

The Warden has an awesome 💡 idea.. I pray for his continue success

Watch the Netflix documentary "13th".... This is enraging...

strange only 2nd degree murder charges

3:03 That's "Hop and Bob" From the movie Life... Wow

Some make as little as two cents an hour and yet don't wanna be used as slaves for a very very corrupt system that is bent to not even give them another chance at a better life what a real shame and a joke and that Warden is exactly the prime example of exactly what I am reffering to

“What was your charge? Four counts!?!?”

Work is always key!

modern slavery

Slavery never ended, it just evolved. 14th amendment

Ummmmmm 🤔 u can be a father to ur child in prison. So that what they programming u yo think now..

4:57 Healthy people. Who have heart that's healed. Who have a soul. They want to give back and that's what they do everyday.

Have any of you personally done anything to help curve this cycle .at home or publicly?

The prison system in addition to the state of Louisiana are equally profiting from this so call rehabilitation. It becomes beneficial to continue to disburse lengthy prison sentences to uneducated/ socioeconomic strickened black men. This is wrong.

One of the guys, in this documentary, is from my hometown of Opelousas, La.

Excellent reporting

Gd video… I got a chance to meet Burel Cain thru My Dad named WEEMAN KAUFMAN HE WAS THERE 36 years … he died their he got saved before his passing we brought him home to Rest in Peace …

Inmates: commits murder and gets punished for it. People on the internet: 😮

Its like a time travel to the old days

Im from.up.North. NYC to be exact. Angola. I couldnt imagine the heat. I was visiting NOLA in 1986. I was blown right out of the water by.the heat! I couldnt imagine working manual.labor in August down there..imagine being a LIFER !?

Reform the places where the inmates came from and where they were raised that lead them to prison in the first place. Seem like having a job was all it took to change some of them .Start creating jobs in the city's where incarnation is highest and it might break the link in the chain that goes on generation after generation and save lives and create role models in the process.

What a shame they are never leaving and this dude wants to control them from a distance

Named after a country in Africa.

nice. i love seeing stuff like this