Inside One of America’s Most Dangerous Prisons—Right Here in Louisiana

(KHLA - Lake Charles, Louisiana) - Did you know that one of the most dangerous prisons in the nation is located in Louisiana?

This Louisiana prison is well known for its violent prisoners and hazardous circumstances for both staff and inmates.

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Louisiana Has One Of The Most Dangerous Prisons In The USA:

Of course, we're talking about Angola State Prison.

The biggest Max prison in the United States is the Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola. On more than 18,000 acres, it holds more than 6,300 prisoners together with more than 1,800 staff members and correctional officials. In 1901, Angola started its operations.

It got its name from a slave plantation that was located nearby. The majority of the plantation's slaves were from Angola, hence the name.

Nicknames of Angola State Prison in Louisiana:

• Alcatraz of the South
• The Farm
• The Angola Plantation
• The Gated Community

I remember going to Angola when I was a kid.  When I saw the signs about not picking up hitchhikers on the road I got scared. My dad told me not to worry that we were safe, but being a kid, I was still apprehensive. During the visit I remember even though we were surrounded by inmates, I felt safe, which was weird seeing how I had felt earlier.  I don't know if it was the multiple check points we had to go through to get in or maybe I had faith that the corrections officers would keep us protected.

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To see the full list of the Top 18 Most Dangerous Prisons In America, click here.