Federal Judge Orders Louisiana to Remove Youth from Angola Maximum-Security Prison

A federal judge has ordered the Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice to remove teenagers from a lockup at the State Penitentiary at Angola, citing violations of their constitutional rights. The judge criticized the agency for its use of solitary confinement, handcuffs, mace, and lack of educational and mental health programming. Attorneys for the teens argued that the facility's conditions and practices were detrimental to their physical and mental health. The order marks a change in the judge's previous stance on the matter.