Exploring Louisiana"s Mass Incarceration Crisis in New Orleans

Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate in the United States, with one in every 100 residents behind bars. This alarming statistic highlights the state's long history of using incarceration as a means of control and exploitation, rooted in systems of enslavement. The Historic New Orleans Collection's exhibition, 'Captive State: Louisiana and the Making of Mass Incarceration,' delves into the historical connections between slavery and modern mass incarceration, particularly affecting Black Louisianians. The origins of mass incarceration in Louisiana can be traced back to the establishment of policing systems designed to capture escaped enslaved individuals. Even after the abolition of slavery, racial prejudice was codified into law, allowing for the continuation of forced labor through the prison system. The 13th Amendment provided a loophole that enabled states to maintain slave labor under the guise of incarceration. In the 1970s, Louisiana enacted laws that led to an increase in felony convictions and longer sentences, aligning with the national 'tough on crime' and 'war on drugs' movements. This resulted in a significant rise in the number of individuals incarcerated, often without fair trials, as laws silenced Black jurors and facilitated coerced confessions. Today, the Louisiana State Penitentiary, known as Angola, stands on land that was once a slave plantation, symbolizing the unbroken cycle of forced labor. The exhibition and accompanying tours aim to educate the public about these historical injustices and their lasting impact on the community.