Louisiana State Penitentiary
Angola, Louisiana, United States
Louisiana State Penitentiary, commonly known as Angola, is the largest maximum-security prison in the United States. Situated on 18,000 acres of former plantation land, it is sometimes called 'The Farm'.
At a glance
- Security / category
- Maximum
- Operator
- Louisiana Department of Public Safety
- Capacity
- 6,300
- Opened
- 1901
- Type (listing)
- Male Adult
What type of prison is Louisiana State Penitentiary?
Type in the listing: Male Adult.
Overview
Louisiana State Penitentiary, commonly known as Angola, is the largest maximum-security prison in the United States. Situated on 18,000 acres of former plantation land, it is sometimes called 'The Farm'.
History
The prison sits on land that was once the Angola Plantation, named after the homeland of enslaved people who worked there. It became a state prison in 1901. The facility has a complex and troubled history intertwined with the legacy of slavery.
Prison Life
Angola operates its own radio station (KLSP) and hosts an annual rodeo open to the public. The prison has extensive agricultural operations and various educational and vocational programmes.
How to visit Louisiana State Penitentiary
Visiting hours are on weekends. Visitors must be approved in advance. Booking steps and ID rules are not universal; verify the latest instructions with the establishment.
Before you visit Louisiana State Penitentiary
If you are organising a visit, confirm how bookings work for this jurisdiction and allow time for approvals where they exist. Visitor requirements change; verifying rules shortly before the date reduces the risk of being turned away at the gate. One prison’s procedures are not a template for every other site—always confirm details for the specific place you are visiting.
For a step-by-step overview, read how prison visits work — then confirm every rule with the operator for this establishment.
Louisiana State Penitentiary facility details
Contact channels are unavailable in this record. Look up the facility through official prison directories rather than relying on third-party summaries alone.
Where is Louisiana State Penitentiary located?
Louisiana State Penitentiary sits in Angola, Louisiana, United States. Coordinates: 30.9559, -91.5571.
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