Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections

The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections (DOC) is responsible for the custody of adult inmates across Louisiana. Just over half of Louisiana‘s approximately 37,000 prisoners are assigned to the state’s thirteen correctional facilities. The remaining prisoners are assigned to parish facilities and work release centers. DOC’s Probation and Parole division supervises an additional 63,000 offenders. [ [http://www.doc.louisiana.gov/ Louisiana Department of Corrections website] ]

History

In 1835, the first Louisiana State Penitentiary was built at the corner of 6th and Laurel Streets in Baton Rouge. In 1844, the penitentiary, including the prisoners, was leased to the private firm of McHatton Pratt and Company. Union Troops occupied the penitentiary during the Civil War, and in 1869, the lease was awarded to a former Confederate Major by the name of Samuel James. Major James oversaw the Louisiana Corrections system for the next 31 years. [ [http://www.doc.louisiana.gov/lsp/history.htm Louisiana State Penitentiary History page] ]

From 1901 until 1916, Corrections was operated by the Board of Control, a three member panel appointed by the Governor of Louisiana. One of the first things the new board did was to purchase the 8,000 acre Angola Plantation. New camps were built and many new security officers were hired. [ [http://www.doc.louisiana.gov/lsp/history.htm Louisiana State Penitentiary History page] ]

In 1916, the legislature abolished the Board of Control and appointed a General Manager of the penitentiary. The new General Manager fired almost all of the officers at Angola and in their place put selected inmate "trusty guards". The manager also purchased an additional 10,000 acres of land, increasing the size of the State Penitentiary to 18,000 acres. [ [http://www.doc.louisiana.gov/lsp/history.htm Louisiana State Penitentiary History page] ]

Facilities

List of Louisiana state prisons

See also

* List of law enforcement agencies in Louisiana
* List of United States state correction agencies
* Louisiana State Penitentiary
* Prison

References

External links

* [http://www.doc.louisiana.gov/ Louisiana Department of public Safety and Corrections]
* [http://www.doc.louisiana.gov/lsp/ Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola website]