Louisiana’s Forgotten Prison History

The State as Slaveholder: Louisiana’s Forgotten Prison History

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The history of the American penal system often hides a dark transition where the state didn’t just punish individuals, it became an active participant in the institution of slavery. In 19th century Louisiana, a chilling legal framework ensured that the bondage of Black women didn’t just end with a life sentence; it extended to their unborn children.

​A Legalized Cycle of State Ownership

​Before the Civil War, the Southern prison population was predominantly white, as enslaved Black people were usually “disciplined” by their owners. However, Louisiana utilized its penitentiary for enslaved individuals who committed acts of resistance, such as arson or rebellion.

​In 1848, the state legislature codified a brutal reality: any child born to an enslaved woman serving a life sentence became the property of the state. These children were raised behind bars until the age of ten. At that point, the state would auction them off on the courthouse steps.

​Funding Education Through Injustice

​The irony of this system was as sharp as it was cruel. The proceeds generated from the sale of these children were frequently funneled into the public treasury to fund educational systems for white children. High-ranking prison officials were often the primary buyers at these auctions, effectively profiting twice from the labor and bodies of those under their “care.”

​From Convict Leasing to State Plantations

​As the 19th century drew to a close, Southern states noticed the massive profits private businessmen were making through the convict lease system. Seeking to cut out the middleman, states like Texas began purchasing their own plantations.

​By 1928, Texas operated 12 separate prison farms. These weren’t just correctional facilities; they were high-yield business ventures. By shifting from leasing inmates to running state-owned plantations, Texas was able to generate over $1.25 million annually a staggering sum at the time.

​The Rise of the “Trustee” Guard

​To keep overhead low and profits high, many states replaced paid guards with the “trustee guard” system. This involved arming the most violent inmates and tasking them with overseeing their peers. To ensure “loyalty,” trustees were often promised immediate parole if they shot an inmate suspected of attempting to escape. This created a culture of state-sanctioned violence that turned prisoners against one another to maintain the state’s bottom line.