Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola

Louis Gibson was sentenced to life imprisonment at 17, spent 25 years incarcerated including 11 at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, and was released in 2018 due to a U.S. Supreme Court decision. He now works as a reentry specialist and youth advocate, helping incarcerated individuals and recently released prisoners, and authored a book about his experience.

Louisiana's new law allows incarcerated individuals to earn 90 days of 'good time' credit for earning an associate’s degree, effective August 1. The law excludes those convicted of sex or violent crimes and builds on a 2021 law offering similar credits for bachelor’s or master’s degrees.

A new Louisiana law allows incarcerated individuals to earn 90 days of 'good time' credit for obtaining an associate’s degree from an approved university, effective August 1. The law excludes those convicted of sex or violent crimes, similar to a 2021 law offering sentence reductions for bachelor’s or master’s degrees. Charles Amos, who earned a bachelor’s degree in prison, exemplifies the educational opportunities that may lead to sentence commutations.

The 2026 Louisiana legislative session resulted in changes to the state's congressional election map and increased prison funding, while New Orleans faced targeted cuts to local offices and state funding. The session was marked by racial and partisan tensions following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana v. Callais.

A federal judge ruled that Louisiana does not need to improve dangerous working conditions on the 'farm line' at Angola prison after a recent appeals court decision weakened the standard for proving Eighth Amendment violations. The ruling, influenced by the Parker v. Hooper case, allows the state to avoid liability if it takes any remedial action, even if ineffective, and found the state met this threshold despite inadequate measures.