Angola Prison

Angola Prison is the proper name for the Louisiana State Penitentiary. It's sometimes also known as "The Farm." One of the largest prisons in the U.S., it houses 5,000 inmates on a 18,000 acre property bordered on three sides by the Mississippi River in the state's West Feliciana Parish.

The property originally served as a slave plantation (and was named "Angola" after the country from which many of the slaves were taken). The area was turned over to the State of Louisiana in 1901, and ever since has been used as a prison. It is currently home to the nation's only inmate-run radio station, magazine The Angolite and a twice-yearly rodeo. Angola continues to serve as a working farm.

Controversial Prisoners

Albert Woodfox, Herman Wallace, and Robert King, the so-called "Angola 3," were accused of the 1972 murder of guard Brent Miller. King has since been paroled, while the other two men remain inside. It is believed that they may have been blamed by the prison's administration because they had formed a "Black Panther Party" to fight corruption and racism in Angola. More recently, death row inmate Patrick Kennedy may be the first criminal executed in 44 years for a crime other than murder.

An 11-year old girl named Poppy Richards visited the remaining Angola Three members in August 2008 after corresponding with them with a series of letters. She is the youngest person to visit the prison. Richards wants to be a human rights lawyer.