Louisiana Declares Emergency to Repair Angola Maximum-Security Unit

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has declared a state of emergency to expedite urgent repairs and the reopening of Camp J, a maximum-security unit within the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. The executive order, effective from July 25 to August 23, suspends procurement and public bidding rules to accelerate refurbishment of the deteriorated facility, which closed in 2018 due to security malfunctions and staff safety concerns. Camp J, once housing over 400 solitary confinement cells for violent offenders, suffered from issues including malfunctioning cell locks, the discovery of dozens of weapons in 2017, and high staff turnover, with approximately 85 corrections officers resigning or leaving within a year. The state currently lacks sufficient bed capacity for the highest-security inmates, prompting the need to bring Camp J back online. The emergency declaration allows the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to bypass usual regulatory hurdles to quickly secure materials and labor for repairs. While detailed plans for reopening have not been released, the move aims to address overcrowding and security risks at Angola.