The Parish Prison | Independent Lens | PBS

Louisiana is the only state in the nation that houses more than half its prisoners in local jails. Most of these jails are in remote, impoverished areas of the state, far from urban centers, and conditions are often deplorable. The head of corrections in the state calls these jails nothing more than "lock and feed facilities." In a bipartisan reform effort, the Democratic governor and the Republican-controlled legislature have begun to reform the state's criminal justice system. With FEMA funding they have built a new, modern jail in Plaquemines Parish closer to New Orleans, and have begun transferring inmates there. Many inmates will now be closer to their families and lawyers. State officials are proud of the new jail, though critics say it never should have been built in a flood zone. To what extent are Louisiana's jail reforms really working?

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Contents of this video ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
00:00 - Entry Point
01:58 - History of Parish Prisons
04:25 - The bare minimum
05:50 - Overhaul
06:34 - Plaquemines Parish
08:06 - Education is key
10:42 - Better shot at the future
12:21 - Credits

Directed and produced by
Joanne Elgart Jennings

Director of Photography
Scott Anger

Editor
Ramiro Segura

Graphic Artist
Joey Chou

Music courtesy of

APM Collection
Tarmo Antti Heikkinen
Emmanuel Jean Binet

Production Assistant
Woody Henriksen

Produced in association with
The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate

Reporter
Bryn Stole

Editor
Gordon Russell

Photographer
Scott Threlkeld

Executive Producers
Lois Vossen
Sally Jo Fifer

Senior Vice President of Content
Jim Sommers

Senior Producer
Stephen Talbot

Associate Producer
Susan Cohen

Learn more about "Independent Lens":

[WithorWithoutParole]

Good video as someone who was incarcerated in the Louisiana prison system one thing I always felt was needed was better programs to help in rehabilitation.

[brettbanta]

As a lifelong Louisiana resident, i can attest that you can get thrown in jail for anything. Its terrifying, and im not a criminal at all

[julie.]

If the state of LA would have listened to &/or appreciated Burl Cain when you had him, you wouldn't have prison problems now.

[joep]

Parish prison isnt just in new orleans . Everything from Louisiana dont revolve around new orleans. Learn that. Their are plenty of cities outside of new orleans in louisiana.

[kewsiyehboah]

Value my Freedom, Like I Value my Life..

[DtotheK]

I was in the Lincoln Parish jail for a day and I was basically in a holding cell bathroom with 2 other black men.. 4 months later when I go to court they arrest me again on more charges and I go back to the same jail and holding cell and both of those men were still there, by this time with long beards and Afros but now there were about 30 men in this cell with hardly any room to even sit. Louisiana is so corrupt it’s insane. What was my crime? Smoking weed

[sierrachoco]

It wouldn't take much to teach welding, masonry, plumbing, etc. These trades are in demand and pay well. You don't new a HS diploma to learn these trades either.

[ludokerfluffle]

"We had no inmates" we had to fix that first" ass hats

[TheeRomantic]

Louisiana is a poor state and people struggle with doing honest work but I'm moving first before getting caught up.

[prison]

That fool just called inmates shipments. I'm sorry but this is crazy!!

[bioweapon]

In EBR Parish(the capital city Baton Rouge) typically to get a mat or blanket after intake takes about a week until other inmates are released and you can get theirs.And if a judge sentences you to a concurrent sentence the DOC will just calculate your time consecutively anyway.

[plateshutoverlock]

Looks like the old industrial slave system is alive and well in Louisiana.

[sarkajindrichova]

12 years for burglary ? what ? in my country this is two ?

[scottabelli]

It would be an interesting segment to do a followup of 2 or 3 years about how former imates are doing in the real world

[bioweapon]

Livingston Parish Louisiana serves the best food of any jail in the USA.Better than most other states households.

[b.r.wright]

We live in a society where we know someone that has been in the system. The horrors are there and we can spend hours googling what its like to be incarcerated. Aside from mistaken identity, prosecutorial misconduct, ineffective counsel, racism, corrupt judges and law enforcement, why, why are our jails and prisons busting at the scenes, all over America? If it's a known horror story, why are they full?😢😢😢

[armanimani]

I really respect jimmy Leblanc, I think he is a good man who actually has the right idea. And he came up on a time where there was many, many cruel men in the Louisiana prison system. He kept true to the right cause

[TheeRomantic]

The American people don't have health care or mental health care. So why would someone in prison be allowed to?

[sturdyharris]

@3:30 I thought evander Holyfield got locked up 🤦🏾‍♂️🤷🏾‍♂️😂😂😂😂

[advocateforchange]

Sad that people think our justice system is flawless and everyone sentenced to prison are actually guilty. There are so many wrongfully convicted people in Louisiana. The whole system needs an outside non government unbiased agent to review and overhaul ALL of it.