1 00:00:15,599 --> 00:00:26,079 Speaker 1: I walk straight line shackle change, Oh, someome gird. It's 2 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:32,560 calling my name. There is no mercy and it's been 3 00:00:32,759 --> 00:00:42,039 a tentery juice as the hill Stream game Rango three. 4 00:00:42,719 --> 00:00:47,840 Speaker 2: Come in by me or die. 5 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 1: Inside these walls, inside the wild. 6 00:00:56,240 --> 00:01:32,400 Speaker 2: And when the girls I Hey everyone, and welcome back 7 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:35,519 to Bloody and GOA a podcast one and forty two 8 00:01:35,599 --> 00:01:39,799 years in the making, the complete story of America's Bloodiest Present. 9 00:01:40,359 --> 00:01:44,959 I'm Jim Chapman. What he is at polygraph school some 10 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:48,719 sort of conference or something out of state. So it's 11 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:52,560 me today and I'm going to bring you some more 12 00:01:52,959 --> 00:01:57,920 writings of Wilbert Rido. I have had at least twenty 13 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:03,799 people email or message me on the Facebook page, and 14 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:08,800 they are loving these little short stories by Wilbert Ridou 15 00:02:09,199 --> 00:02:12,599 that I found in the end golight in some other publications. 16 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:16,080 And they're saying any that I come across that I 17 00:02:16,159 --> 00:02:19,439 could share, they'd love it. And so hopefully y'all are 18 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:22,000 loving the content there. And I've got a couple more 19 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:24,439 that I was able to dig up. And the first 20 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:27,719 one I'm in a reference is called Butler's Park by 21 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:31,039 Wilbert Rido, and it says this looks like it's going 22 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:33,560 to be the best thing to happen here since they 23 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:37,400 put inmates in blue jeans. Ernest Warren said of his 24 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:42,719 new duties an Angola security officer. Warren assists on varying 25 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:46,199 duties with a new and innovative feature of the prison's 26 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:51,319 inmate visiting system called outdoor Visiting, announced earlier this year 27 00:02:51,479 --> 00:02:55,159 by Correction Secretary C. Paul Phelps, who described it as 28 00:02:55,199 --> 00:02:58,479 the first step in the administration's long term plan to 29 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:03,479 institute incentive to induce and reward good behavior among the 30 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:07,840 prisoner population. The program furthers to improve the conditions of 31 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:13,080 inmate visiting at Angola. Traditionally, inmates at Louisiana State Penitentiary 32 00:03:13,199 --> 00:03:16,639 have been permitted only two methods of visiting, the manner 33 00:03:16,759 --> 00:03:21,919 being determined by custody status. Maximum security inmates must visit 34 00:03:22,039 --> 00:03:26,159 with a screen or glass partition separating them from visitors. 35 00:03:26,439 --> 00:03:30,879 Medium and minimum security inmates are permitted contact visits. The 36 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:34,400 inmate and his visitors simply walk into a visiting room, 37 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:37,960 select whatever table they desire, and are free to touch 38 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:42,400 or embrace. The new program adds another dimension to visiting, 39 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:45,240 and the first stage of it is already a reality. 40 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:50,000 A spacious, tree shaded park, nestled against sloping hills on 41 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:54,120 the outskirts of an employee residential area has been created 42 00:03:54,439 --> 00:03:58,360 at the prison for eligible trustee inmates to have picnics 43 00:03:58,439 --> 00:04:02,560 with their approved visitors. Barbecue grills have been installed to 44 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:06,840 allow inmates and visitors to cook their own meals. Administrative 45 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:11,080 emphasis is upon the relaxed atmosphere and allowing inmates and 46 00:04:11,319 --> 00:04:15,199 visitors the freedom to do things together as a family. 47 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:18,720 People tend to forget that regardless of the reason the 48 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:23,319 inmate is in prison, he's somebody's father, son, husband, or brother. 49 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:28,279 That pointed out by Buddy Dell Weber. Weber, a security officer, 50 00:04:28,399 --> 00:04:31,319 is on site coordinator of the program at the park. 51 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:34,759 If the inmate is to eventually leave here and be 52 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:38,360 reintegrated into free society, we have to prepare him for 53 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:42,040 it by helping him maintain and preserve his family ties. 54 00:04:42,439 --> 00:04:45,319 Having an inmate visit his family across the table in 55 00:04:45,439 --> 00:04:48,240 a crowded and noisy visiting room leaves a lot to 56 00:04:48,319 --> 00:04:51,160 be desired out here in the park. A father can 57 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:53,959 play tag with his kids, They can move around. The 58 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:57,199 family can cook and do something together as a family. 59 00:04:57,439 --> 00:05:00,439 This type of visiting is a much more meaningf way 60 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:03,480 to let the inmate remain a husband to his wife, 61 00:05:03,879 --> 00:05:06,839 a son to his parents, a father to his children. 62 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:10,759 In addition, this kind of visiting is less stressful for 63 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:14,480 the visitors who we must remember our tax paying citizens 64 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:17,600 who haven't committed crimes. I think this is definitely a 65 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:21,399 step in the right direction for Louisiana State Penitentiary. The 66 00:05:21,519 --> 00:05:24,680 visitors are grateful. This is the first time in seven 67 00:05:24,879 --> 00:05:27,399 years that we've been able to all be together as 68 00:05:27,399 --> 00:05:31,600 a family with Leyton Merl Krill states watching her son 69 00:05:31,759 --> 00:05:34,839 and his child chase a butterfly, it's such a great 70 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:38,000 change from sitting in a visiting room. It feels good 71 00:05:38,079 --> 00:05:40,240 to be able to get out like this, and we're 72 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:44,040 really enjoying it. Danny Welch had told his mother Mary 73 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:47,759 about the new visiting program, but she admits I still 74 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:50,759 didn't know what to expect. You can't really picture it 75 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:54,160 into your mind until you come here and actually see it, 76 00:05:54,879 --> 00:05:57,600 And having seen it, it's still hard to believe. It's 77 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:01,639 so much more than I anticipate. The visitors love it. 78 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:04,600 Weber states, once they come out here, they'll go at 79 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:07,120 any length to be able to come back and visit 80 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:10,639 like this again. In fact, the inmates are now getting 81 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:14,120 pressure from their wives and families as a result. They 82 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:16,319 know that they can only come out here and visit 83 00:06:16,519 --> 00:06:19,120 like this as long as the inmate is behaving himself 84 00:06:19,199 --> 00:06:22,319 while he's in prison. And I hear the visitors talking 85 00:06:22,439 --> 00:06:25,680 to the inmate as they're leaving, telling him under no 86 00:06:25,959 --> 00:06:28,839 uncertain terms that he better stay out of trouble so 87 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:32,759 that they can continue to visit like this. It's true. 88 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:37,839 Lewis debon a trustee acknowledges. Right after the first visit 89 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:40,759 in the park. My wife served notice on me that 90 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:44,000 if I caused her to lose this privilege, I'm in trouble. 91 00:06:44,759 --> 00:06:48,000 Eligibility for a picnic visit in the park is more 92 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:51,040 or less in the hands of the inmate. His custody 93 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:54,399 status and prison conduct record determine whether or not he 94 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:58,399 and his visitors are eligible for the new program. Currently, 95 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:01,879 the inmate is required to be a Class A trustee. 96 00:07:02,199 --> 00:07:04,600 It must not have had a write up within the 97 00:07:04,759 --> 00:07:07,800 past year. I don't know if anything is better than 98 00:07:07,879 --> 00:07:10,439 this to give an inmate a reason to keep his 99 00:07:10,639 --> 00:07:14,279 business straight. Warren said, it works out good for the system, 100 00:07:14,519 --> 00:07:17,720 the inmates, and all US employees who will benefit from 101 00:07:17,759 --> 00:07:22,040 the inmates behaving themselves. That's the purpose of the program. 102 00:07:22,279 --> 00:07:27,560 Deputy Warden Hilton Butler emits he created the outdoor visiting program. 103 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:30,519 It's to give the inmates and visitors something good to 104 00:07:30,639 --> 00:07:33,439 look forward to for a while, at the same time 105 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:38,000 making the present more trouble free. The park was Hilton's idea. 106 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:41,920 Warden Frank Blackburn states he felt that the trustees of 107 00:07:41,959 --> 00:07:45,600 Angola deserves something for their efforts and good behavior, and 108 00:07:45,959 --> 00:07:48,560 as you know, there's not very much we've been able 109 00:07:48,639 --> 00:07:51,480 to do for them. Ever since Hilton told me about it, 110 00:07:51,639 --> 00:07:54,560 I've liked the idea and I encouraged him to do it, 111 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:57,920 and I'm proud to say that it's turning out very well. 112 00:07:58,240 --> 00:07:59,920 I think it'll do a man a lot of good 113 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:02,680 to be able to visit and picnic with his family 114 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:06,000 out there rather than being jammed up in the visiting room. 115 00:08:06,079 --> 00:08:09,759 Butler explains some of the inmates going out there haven't 116 00:08:09,839 --> 00:08:13,439 cooked or eaten with their family in ten fifteen years. 117 00:08:14,279 --> 00:08:16,240 Now they can have a picnic, run a run, and 118 00:08:16,279 --> 00:08:19,199 play with their kids. I think it'll contribute to keeping 119 00:08:19,279 --> 00:08:22,720 the families closer together. It'll also help the inmate by 120 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:26,199 giving him a better attitude, while encouraging other inmates who 121 00:08:26,199 --> 00:08:29,519 don't qualify to straighten up their act, make better men 122 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:32,720 of themselves, and work toward trying to get the same privilege. 123 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:36,960 It's also a good disciplinary tool because once they've had 124 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:39,720 a visit in the park, they're not gonna want that 125 00:08:39,879 --> 00:08:43,200 privilege canceled by getting a write up. The program has 126 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:46,360 had his impact. While Danny Welch pointed out the new 127 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:50,360 privilege won't cause any dramatic changes in his behavior since 128 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:53,200 he makes it his business to stay out of trouble anyway, 129 00:08:53,759 --> 00:08:56,360 he admits that the knowledge that the write up will 130 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:59,360 cancel the privilege does make you a little bit more 131 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:02,639 careful to make sure you don't get write up. He 132 00:09:02,799 --> 00:09:06,519 believes the program will prove a definite incentive to other inmates. 133 00:09:06,919 --> 00:09:09,639 Once they see the park and visit like this, they'll 134 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:14,600 realize it's definitely worth working and looking forward to. Outdoor 135 00:09:14,759 --> 00:09:17,639 visiting in the park begins with the onset of warm 136 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:20,600 weather and runs until the weather gets too cold for 137 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:24,360 people to be out there comfortably. Butler explains, pointing out 138 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:29,000 that Louisiana's winters rarely lasts more than three months. Unlike 139 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:33,799 regular visiting programs, which restrict visits to two hours or less, 140 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:36,639 the new program allows inmates to be with their visitors 141 00:09:36,759 --> 00:09:39,080 in the park for six and a half hours, from 142 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:41,600 eight in the morning until two thirty in the afternoon. 143 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:46,039 Visitors eligible for picnic visits are required to arrive at 144 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:49,759 the prison gate between eight and nine thirty. Those arriving 145 00:09:49,919 --> 00:09:53,080 late must take their visit in the visiting room under 146 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:57,200 normal procedures, given that time factor, visitors have to put 147 00:09:57,320 --> 00:09:59,960 forth a little extra effort to get to the preson 148 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,879 and within the appointed time, but many are willing to 149 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:06,840 make it. A Texas couple drove twelve straight hours from 150 00:10:06,919 --> 00:10:09,200 Brownsville to get here in time to have a picnic 151 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:12,519 visit with their son. A New Orleans woman whose car 152 00:10:12,639 --> 00:10:15,799 broke down in Baton Rouge hired a taxi to get 153 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:19,679 her to the prison on time. While the early hour 154 00:10:19,799 --> 00:10:23,639 might be somewhat inconvenient, the visitors have no complaints, as 155 00:10:23,759 --> 00:10:27,639 Mary Welch, also from New Orleans, states it was worth 156 00:10:27,759 --> 00:10:29,320 having to get up at four in the morning to 157 00:10:29,399 --> 00:10:32,679 get here on time. The surroundings the atmosphere. It's all 158 00:10:32,759 --> 00:10:36,279 so different and nice. That is the most wonderful thing 159 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:39,480 that could have happened to us. Visiting like this lets 160 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:42,919 us really feel like a family to be scheduled for 161 00:10:43,039 --> 00:10:46,360 a picnic visit in the park. All eligible inmates must 162 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:50,279 submit a written request to Butler proposing a specific date 163 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:53,679 on which his visitors can come. Since a year without 164 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:59,039 a disciplinaryan fraction is in the criteria, Administrative assistant Nettie 165 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:03,159 Vorhes pulls the inmate's file for Butler's review. I do 166 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:06,960 make exceptions, Butler admits, if the inmate had a minor 167 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:10,679 disciplinaryan fraction, something like dropping a cigarette butt on the 168 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:13,600 floor or not cleaning up his bed or something, I 169 00:11:13,639 --> 00:11:17,159 don't hold that against him. For example, one inmate requesting 170 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:20,039 a part visit had two write ups for gambling, but 171 00:11:20,159 --> 00:11:22,759 hadn't had a write up for several years before then. 172 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,559 I went on and I approved him for the program. 173 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:29,799 I'm flexible. I'm willing to consider the nature of the infraction, 174 00:11:30,039 --> 00:11:35,000 but disciplinary infractions involving refusal to work or insubordination with 175 00:11:35,159 --> 00:11:37,799 my officers of the kind I'm not going to give 176 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:42,480 any consideration to. While the regular visiting program operates five 177 00:11:42,559 --> 00:11:46,440 days a week, eight hours a day. The outdoor visiting program, 178 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:50,440 in its infancy and restricted to Class A trustees, operates 179 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:54,000 only a small number of days per month, those days 180 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:57,960 being determined primarily by the number of requests for each visit. 181 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:01,960 Eligible inmates are allowed only one picnic visit per month. 182 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:04,919 A plan to extend the allowance to twice per month 183 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:09,240 is currently being considered. The park contains twelve tables and 184 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:12,759 visits that are not scheduled until there are enough approved 185 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:16,840 requests to justify opening the park to accommodate them. The 186 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:20,240 problem is that the Class A trustees constitute only a 187 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:24,120 small segment of the prison's inmate population, and a substantial 188 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:26,679 percentage of them are men who have been confined here 189 00:12:26,759 --> 00:12:31,000 for years, men who experience the natural corresponding decrease in 190 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:34,080 the number and frequency of visitors that goes along with 191 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:38,159 the passage of time, and with disciplinary reports barring some 192 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:42,399 from eligibility. The number of inmates currently participating in the 193 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:47,440 program is small. Eligible inmates requesting an outdoor visit are 194 00:12:47,639 --> 00:12:50,559 encouraged to give an alternate date. If he asks for 195 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:53,919 a particular day, he might be the only person requesting 196 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:58,279 that day Butler points out the stricter regulations governing behavior 197 00:12:58,399 --> 00:13:01,159 in the prison's visiting room do not apply to the 198 00:13:01,279 --> 00:13:04,879 outdoor visiting program, where the emphasis is on a relaxed 199 00:13:04,919 --> 00:13:09,440 atmosphere and freedom. Aside from requiring that everyone stay within 200 00:13:09,519 --> 00:13:11,879 the perimeter of the park, we only ask that each 201 00:13:11,960 --> 00:13:16,120 set of visitors respect the others. For He's explains, each 202 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:19,840 inmate is responsible for his visitors and children. We rely 203 00:13:20,039 --> 00:13:22,440 upon those who have the privilege to want to keep 204 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:25,279 it and not mess it up for themselves or others. 205 00:13:25,759 --> 00:13:29,600 A disciplinary infraction incurred at any time anywhere in the 206 00:13:29,679 --> 00:13:33,159 prison can result in removal of the inmate from the program. 207 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:37,879 Given the importance of visiting, the loss of outdoor visiting privileges, 208 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:40,960 in addition to the normal punishment meted out by the 209 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:47,679 prison disciplinary court, makes a disciplinary fraction particularly costly. That's 210 00:13:47,759 --> 00:13:50,399 why I consider the nature of the write ups and 211 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:53,399 make exceptions, says Butler. You have to understand that I'm 212 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:56,200 giving the inmate something special, and all I'm asking for 213 00:13:56,360 --> 00:13:58,919 in return is that he stays out of trouble, something 214 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:02,960 he should do anyway, I don't think that's asking for much, 215 00:14:03,279 --> 00:14:06,159 so I want him to understand that he's automatically losing 216 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:09,559 all of this if he messes up. The only consideration 217 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:12,200 he's going to get, and the only exception I'll make 218 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:15,480 is if the infraction is something minor, something I can 219 00:14:15,639 --> 00:14:19,279 understand and may be ignore. Other than that, he's getting 220 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:22,840 taken off the program. If he's not, I'll be defeating 221 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:26,799 the whole purpose of the program. Butler's enthusiasm for the 222 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:29,480 new program is common knowledge. He paid for the first 223 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:32,519 round of charcoal for the barbecues out of his own pocket, 224 00:14:32,759 --> 00:14:36,039 asking that visitors donate whatever they wish to a fund 225 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:39,320 so that the steady supply could be available for everyone 226 00:14:39,559 --> 00:14:42,840 utilizing the park. He often visits the park, going from 227 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:45,840 table to table, greeting the visitors and asking for their 228 00:14:45,879 --> 00:14:48,679 input on ways to improve the park. He wanted to 229 00:14:48,759 --> 00:14:53,000 install swings and provide playthings for the children, something many 230 00:14:53,080 --> 00:14:56,679 of the visitors also suggested, but he's having to reconsider. 231 00:14:57,039 --> 00:14:59,120 I'd love to do that, he said, but I'm having 232 00:14:59,159 --> 00:15:00,840 to give it a lot of fun thought because I've 233 00:15:00,879 --> 00:15:04,360 got to consider the possible civil liability involved if one 234 00:15:04,399 --> 00:15:07,000 of the kids gets hurt. That's something I'm going to 235 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:10,000 have to discuss with mister Phelps. And our lawyers before 236 00:15:10,039 --> 00:15:14,120 I install anything. Recently, he permitted one visitor to donate 237 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:18,120 a small plastic plaything in the part for smaller kids. 238 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:22,080 The new program has been greeted with enthusiastic support from 239 00:15:22,080 --> 00:15:25,919 Phelps and Blackburn, visiting personnel, and a lot of prison 240 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:29,320 personnel who you wouldn't think would normally like the idea, 241 00:15:29,679 --> 00:15:33,879 Butler said, Even staunch hardline security people tell me they 242 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:36,200 think it's one of the best things that ever happened 243 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:39,000 to the inmates here, and they've offered to do whatever 244 00:15:39,039 --> 00:15:41,440 they can do to help make it a success. Everyone 245 00:15:41,519 --> 00:15:44,159 wants to see it work. For instance, when we had 246 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:46,559 to come up with a way of letting visitors cook 247 00:15:46,639 --> 00:15:50,759 without allowing them to bring groceries into the prison, Randy Weinstein, 248 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:53,600 who works in the commissary, agreed to leave his home 249 00:15:53,679 --> 00:15:55,840 on his days off to go open the store and 250 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:58,840 fill orders for the visitors. There have been times when 251 00:15:58,879 --> 00:16:01,080 I told him that he didn't have to do that. 252 00:16:01,279 --> 00:16:04,039 I would personally go get groceries, but he wanted to 253 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:06,559 do it. And that's the kind of support we've been 254 00:16:06,639 --> 00:16:09,720 getting from a lot of people, the mainenance department and 255 00:16:09,759 --> 00:16:14,879 the inmate workers. My staff officials, personnel, and even inmate organizations. 256 00:16:14,919 --> 00:16:17,600 Who's offered to buy things that might be needed in 257 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:21,159 the park. Everybody seems supportive. If there's somebody who's not, 258 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:23,519 or if they have a problem with the program, they're 259 00:16:23,559 --> 00:16:26,919 not letting me know about it. The program began with 260 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:30,080 trustee prisoners, but it will not end with them. Picnic 261 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:33,440 rights for Class A trustees representing only the first stage 262 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:38,159 of a much larger program. I definitely intend to extend 263 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:42,200 it to a Class B trustee and medium security inmates. 264 00:16:42,279 --> 00:16:46,159 Butler states they'll both be integrated into the program at 265 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:48,639 the same time in place, and it will operate more 266 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:51,279 or less like it does for the Class A trustees 267 00:16:51,399 --> 00:16:54,559 in the park. The only difference will be the location. 268 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:58,679 He's considering, creating a park like area adjacent to the 269 00:16:58,759 --> 00:17:02,039 main prison visiting He had initially planned to start the 270 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:05,680 program for medium security inmates next spring, but the program 271 00:17:05,799 --> 00:17:08,720 for the trustees is working so well that I'm actually 272 00:17:08,839 --> 00:17:12,880 trying to get something started for medium security inmates this fall, 273 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:15,920 he said. But if I can't pull it off, I'll 274 00:17:16,039 --> 00:17:18,960 definitely have it ready by the spring. Those who are 275 00:17:19,039 --> 00:17:21,960 interested in participating in the program can get ready for 276 00:17:22,079 --> 00:17:23,880 it all they've got to do is give me a 277 00:17:24,079 --> 00:17:28,400 year without a serious write up. Butler anticipates no problems 278 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:32,319 in extending picnic visits to medium security inmates. We're still 279 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:35,359 going to have inmates strip search following their visits, just 280 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:38,119 as we do now on regular visits and the visiting room, 281 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:41,720 he points out, we don't want any contraband flowing through there. 282 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:45,559 Of course, there's always the possibility after a while someone 283 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:49,119 might toy around with the idea of trying something. After all, 284 00:17:49,279 --> 00:17:51,400 there are some people who go through a lot of 285 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:54,880 hassle to get some dope, but that's no real problem 286 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:58,119 because that kind of prisoner is not likely to be 287 00:17:58,319 --> 00:18:01,720 eligible for the program. Stone art with, he's not the 288 00:18:01,839 --> 00:18:05,079 kind who can stay clean of the disciplinary report for 289 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:08,559 an entire year. After considering all angles, and based on 290 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:11,599 my thirty three years of experience with prisoners, I don't 291 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:14,680 expect any increase in the flow of contraband or any 292 00:18:14,759 --> 00:18:18,200 other type of problems. Butler feels the full potential of 293 00:18:18,279 --> 00:18:21,839 the program won't be realized until medium security inmates are 294 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:25,440 incorporated into it. That's when it is expected become a 295 00:18:25,599 --> 00:18:30,000 full fledged affair, operating on a daily basis. Medium security 296 00:18:30,039 --> 00:18:33,640 inmates constitute the majority of the prison population and the 297 00:18:33,839 --> 00:18:38,519 largest percentage of inmates receiving regular visits from friends and relatives. 298 00:18:39,160 --> 00:18:40,680 I think we're going to have a lot of people 299 00:18:40,799 --> 00:18:44,359 in the program, Butler speculates, and the more the better. 300 00:18:45,039 --> 00:18:47,160 I hope we have so many people in the program 301 00:18:47,279 --> 00:18:49,799 that it gets so big we have to keep expanding 302 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:53,119 the picnic area. Because if there are a thousand inmates 303 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:56,960 participating in the program, that's a thousand prisoners who are 304 00:18:56,960 --> 00:18:59,759 staying out of trouble and not causing problems for anyone. 305 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:03,240 That's good news. I think this program has the potential 306 00:19:03,279 --> 00:19:05,880 of being one of the best incentives for good behavior 307 00:19:06,039 --> 00:19:08,799 that you can come up with, given the circumstances and 308 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:12,039 what we've had to work with. Butler says, it's something 309 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:14,799 to help the inmates, something that once they get it, 310 00:19:15,039 --> 00:19:17,319 I don't think they're going to want to lose it, 311 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:20,759 and that will reduce disciplinary problems, make the prison more 312 00:19:20,839 --> 00:19:23,559 troubled free, and in the long run, be good for 313 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:27,720 the security of the institution. The outdoor visiting program might 314 00:19:27,799 --> 00:19:30,799 be an idea whose time has arrived. Jack Donnelly, the 315 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:35,519 warden of the troubled Washington Correctional Facility at Bugalusa, the 316 00:19:35,599 --> 00:19:39,759 state's newest prison, recently visited the park site and has 317 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:44,240 requested all available information about the program. He's considering creating 318 00:19:44,319 --> 00:19:47,359 a similar one at his prison, which has been plagued 319 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:51,880 by a lack of adequate incentive mechanisms. Butler and his idea, 320 00:19:52,079 --> 00:19:54,920 We're paid the ultimate compliment. At a dinner in his 321 00:19:55,039 --> 00:19:59,640 honor attended by officials and numerous inmate leaders, Warden Blackburn, 322 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:03,119 at the request of the inmates, officially proclaimed the park 323 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:06,799 site's new name to be Butler Park, and in the 324 00:20:06,839 --> 00:20:10,519 postcrip it says Layton Crill, Lewis Davon, and Danny Welch 325 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:14,559 serve their sentences and were released. Sergeant Ernest Warren retired, 326 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:17,279 Buddy dell Weber no longer works at the park, and 327 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:20,799 Nettie Vorhees transferred to a prison closer to her home. 328 00:20:21,079 --> 00:20:25,119 Frank Blackburn retired in nineteen eighty seven, and Hilton Butler 329 00:20:25,279 --> 00:20:28,400 was named warden that same year. In nineteen eighty seven, 330 00:20:28,519 --> 00:20:32,119 picnic visits where extended to medium security inmates the now 331 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:35,599 expanded Picnic Visiting program as a minister by the Prison 332 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:41,400 Classification Department. Similar programs now exist at most Louisiana prisons. 333 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:43,480 And that's a pretty good one. And we talk about 334 00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:47,799 it a lot on Bloody Angola, and that is hope right. 335 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:53,160 You can't just lock prisoners up, give them no privileges 336 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:57,200 whatsoever and expect everything to be cope aesthetic. And I'll 337 00:20:57,240 --> 00:20:59,720 continue on to the next one I chose, and that's 338 00:20:59,799 --> 00:21:04,440 called called the Pelican Protector years End in nineteen eighty 339 00:21:04,559 --> 00:21:09,160 six saw official dedication of the John B. Rabelais Waterfowl 340 00:21:09,279 --> 00:21:14,039 Refuge in Louisiana State Penitentiary. The refuge is believed to 341 00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:17,319 be the first wildlife sanctuary within the perimeters of a 342 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:21,240 prison anywhere in the nation. The story of the refuge 343 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:26,640 began some four years ago when Lieutenant Bobby Olivo discovered 344 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:30,279 a pelican trapped in a trout line on Lake Killerney. 345 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:34,480 He freed the unfortunate bird, but the pelican had suffered 346 00:21:34,559 --> 00:21:38,119 serious injuries to his wing. Olivo saw to it that 347 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:41,640 the bird was treated and nursed back to health. Once healthy, 348 00:21:41,799 --> 00:21:44,359 the bird was still unable to fly because he had 349 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:47,720 a damaged wings, so Captain John B. Rabelai took him 350 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:50,319 to Camp f where he was adopted and cared for 351 00:21:50,559 --> 00:21:53,400 by the prisoners, and guess what they named him, y'all? 352 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:58,359 They named him Pierre. Rabelais and Ron Wickburg, a lifer, 353 00:21:58,759 --> 00:22:01,480 decided that Pierre Sho should have a mate or be 354 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:04,759 relocated to an area where a mate was available. With 355 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:09,079 the blessing of Warden Frank Blackburn, wig Bird spearheaded the project, 356 00:22:09,279 --> 00:22:13,119 contacting the media and people throughout the region. Pierre, one 357 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:16,640 of the most unusual of jailbirds, quickly became a focal 358 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:20,640 point of the media. He was featured in Louisiana Conservationist 359 00:22:20,759 --> 00:22:25,519 magazine and was the subject of television reports. As a 360 00:22:25,559 --> 00:22:29,119 result of the media attention, a mate was found for Pierre. 361 00:22:30,039 --> 00:22:34,400 Doctor W. S. Bivins of the Louisiana State University Vet 362 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:38,960 School and two students had treated a gunshot wounded pelican 363 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:42,680 they named Samantha, and she needed a place to rest 364 00:22:42,759 --> 00:22:46,200 and hill. Through the combined efforts of Bivins and Fur 365 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:50,759 and Refue Division Chief Johnny Tarver, Samantha was brought to Angola. 366 00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:54,880 She immediately hit it off with Pierre. A variety of 367 00:22:55,079 --> 00:22:58,920 other feathered creatures gradually joined the two pelicans at the pond, 368 00:22:59,079 --> 00:23:02,559 including two more were injured Pelicans complements of the Audubon 369 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:06,799 Park Zoological Gardens. To ensure the peace of the camp 370 00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:11,599 F Pond for its increasing waterfowl population, Rabbelay persuaded Warden 371 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:16,039 Blackburn to prohibit all hunting and fishing there. On December two, 372 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:19,559 nineteen eighty six, on a sunny but Chile afternoon, a 373 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:23,200 host of prison personnel, prisoners, local and state officials, and 374 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:26,240 friends and relatives of rabel A gathered in front of 375 00:23:26,319 --> 00:23:30,160 Camp F to dedicate the John B. Rabel A Waterfowl 376 00:23:30,279 --> 00:23:33,440 Refuge as a testimonial to the man in his thirty 377 00:23:33,559 --> 00:23:37,319 years of service at Angola. Warden Blackburn served as MC 378 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:42,400 for the event. Prior to acknowledging the dignitaries present, Deputy 379 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:46,559 Warden Hilton Butler recounted his long standing friendship with Rabelais. 380 00:23:47,079 --> 00:23:49,440 John and I go back a long ways, he told 381 00:23:49,519 --> 00:23:51,839 the audience. It was kind of like it is now. 382 00:23:52,039 --> 00:23:54,960 We were real shorthanded. I was the captain then and 383 00:23:55,079 --> 00:23:58,079 John had just started working for me. He wanted to 384 00:23:58,119 --> 00:24:00,440 get married, and I told him to go ahead. I'm 385 00:24:00,519 --> 00:24:02,920 working his place, so I pulled a shift for him 386 00:24:03,079 --> 00:24:05,480 and he got married. To this day, I don't know 387 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:08,559 whether I did Miss Dora a great favor or not. 388 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:13,720 Referring to that guy's wife, wick Burg, who had worked 389 00:24:13,759 --> 00:24:16,839 for Rabelae to create the sanctuary, told the group today 390 00:24:17,119 --> 00:24:21,640 mankind is solemnizing two important events. It's reafferring concern for 391 00:24:21,759 --> 00:24:24,640 our wildlife and environment, and it's paying tribute to a 392 00:24:24,759 --> 00:24:28,160 special human being friend. In my opinion, there's no man 393 00:24:28,359 --> 00:24:31,440 more deserving. The high point of the event was provided 394 00:24:31,480 --> 00:24:35,799 by Attorney Jack Grimion, who, as an Attorney General, first 395 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:39,039 met and became associated with rabbel Ai long ago and 396 00:24:39,119 --> 00:24:42,920 when Rabelais worked in the prison's record office. I've always 397 00:24:43,079 --> 00:24:45,920 cherished his friendship, and I will value it as long 398 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:49,200 as I live, he declared, calling his old friend up 399 00:24:49,319 --> 00:24:52,400 to stand beside the podium. Grimion presented him with an 400 00:24:52,440 --> 00:24:56,799 official certificate on behalf of J. Burton Angels, Secretary of 401 00:24:56,920 --> 00:25:01,200 the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, and of the the Jeffersonians, 402 00:25:01,759 --> 00:25:06,039 which was a civic organization. A simple man of simple taste, 403 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:09,759 Rabelay accepted the honor with both pride and humility. He 404 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:12,359 was never a soft man, but his face bore the 405 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:15,119 lines of age and wisdom, and merely a hint of 406 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:18,920 compassion that lay beneath the gruff exterior. He was a 407 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:21,480 man for his times and a man of few words. 408 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:25,119 I've always said and still do, that anything can be 409 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:29,559 accomplished by anybody willing to work together. This refuge is 410 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:34,119 the perfect example of that belief. Visibly moved by the honor, 411 00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:38,839 he thanked everyone for participating. Bishop Stanley Ott of the 412 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:42,599 Baton Ridge Catholic Diocese blessed the refuge, pointing out that 413 00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:45,839 the pelican is a symbol or a sign of the Eucharist. 414 00:25:46,599 --> 00:25:49,000 A pelican's mother will give her own blood to her 415 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:51,519 young in order to feed it, and the pelican is 416 00:25:51,559 --> 00:25:56,039 a beautiful symbol of love and unselfishness and of total giving. 417 00:25:56,759 --> 00:26:01,000 Assistant Warden Roger Thomas closed the ceremony he's observing. We 418 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:04,519 had quite a few of these grand openings in recent months, 419 00:26:04,599 --> 00:26:06,480 and I'm happy to see that this has been one 420 00:26:06,519 --> 00:26:09,480 of the nicer ones. It demonstrates that there is much 421 00:26:09,599 --> 00:26:12,799 more than Gola beyond the bars and guns. We are 422 00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:16,079 not only in the business of rehabilitating inmates. We are 423 00:26:16,279 --> 00:26:22,000 now going to be rehabilitating birds. Tarvar representing the Wildlife 424 00:26:22,039 --> 00:26:25,359 and Fisheries Department told me in golight, I've been looking 425 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:28,880 forward to coming here to see for myself the results 426 00:26:29,039 --> 00:26:31,680 of everyone's efforts, and I'm pleased with what I see. 427 00:26:32,519 --> 00:26:34,839 It is most likely that this is the first such 428 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:38,799 sanctuary ever created inside a prison, setting, an event for 429 00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:44,039 which Louisiana is proud. Sheriff Bill Daniels of West Feliciana Parrish, 430 00:26:44,279 --> 00:26:48,240 on hand to extend his congratulations, said, John has been 431 00:26:48,279 --> 00:26:51,559 a big asset to the correction system and is deserving 432 00:26:51,759 --> 00:26:55,680 of this honor. Rablay told me in golight, the dedication 433 00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:57,960 of the refuge in my name is an honor I 434 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:01,880 will never forget. This event is very touching, emotional, and 435 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:05,319 a proud time for me and my family. Although the 436 00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:08,640 honor was bestayed on me personally, it's an honor which 437 00:27:08,759 --> 00:27:12,039 is shared by many people who participated in this venture. 438 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:16,000 The refuge signifies much more than a place for different 439 00:27:16,079 --> 00:27:20,119 birds and animals to live together in peaceful existence. It 440 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:24,480 confirms that all employees and inmates of a maximum security institution, 441 00:27:24,799 --> 00:27:28,000 as well as all people, can work together under unusual 442 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:33,640 circumstances to develop positive programs in any environment. I personally 443 00:27:33,759 --> 00:27:37,599 dedicate the refuge to all employees and inmates in Angola 444 00:27:37,759 --> 00:27:42,599 as a symbol of cooperation, dedication, honor, respect and accomplishment. 445 00:27:42,799 --> 00:27:46,319 Words cannot express the gratitude I feel for the efforts 446 00:27:46,359 --> 00:27:49,640 of all inmates and staff who were responsible for developing 447 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:53,359 the refuge and for dedicating it in my name. Rabelai's 448 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:56,880 family was touched by the event. His wife, Dora, who 449 00:27:57,000 --> 00:28:00,640 heads the prison's legal programs department, stayed, it is of 450 00:28:00,799 --> 00:28:03,880 great significance to all of us at this particular time 451 00:28:03,960 --> 00:28:07,680 in our lives. The dedication ceremony was very moving and 452 00:28:07,839 --> 00:28:11,839 memorable for all of us. While John portrays a gruff, 453 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:15,480 tough professional exterior, those of us who know him know 454 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:18,319 that he's a kind, dedicated man of courage, honesty, and 455 00:28:18,440 --> 00:28:21,319 integrity who has a special place in his heart for 456 00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:25,400 anyone or anything suffering a disadvantage. I cannot think of 457 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:28,759 a more fitting tribute for John's thirty years of dedicated 458 00:28:28,839 --> 00:28:32,920 professional service to Louisiana State Penitentiary. I hope that the 459 00:28:33,039 --> 00:28:35,799 honorabis state on John will serve as a reminder to 460 00:28:36,039 --> 00:28:39,480 all employees that corrections is not a thankless profession, and 461 00:28:39,599 --> 00:28:42,000 that the refuge will serve as a symbol to both 462 00:28:42,119 --> 00:28:45,400 staff and inmates that they can work together to accomplish 463 00:28:45,519 --> 00:28:50,559 positive goals. And in the postcript sadly it says Captain 464 00:28:50,799 --> 00:28:55,000 John B. Rabalay died in nineteen eighty seven. The Wildlife 465 00:28:55,079 --> 00:28:59,079 Refuge is still maintained, and the pelican still lives in 466 00:28:59,160 --> 00:29:02,920 a nearby waterway. And I got one more for you 467 00:29:03,359 --> 00:29:05,920 that you're going to find really interesting. And look, if 468 00:29:06,039 --> 00:29:09,839 you are from Louisiana, you've heard of the Neville Brothers. 469 00:29:09,839 --> 00:29:12,920 As a matter of fact, one of my favorite Christmas 470 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:17,960 albums of all time is Aaron Neville's Christmas. If you 471 00:29:18,039 --> 00:29:22,319 ain't heard it, go listen to it. Love Aaron Neville's voice. 472 00:29:23,680 --> 00:29:25,680 And a lot of people don't know he used to 473 00:29:25,799 --> 00:29:29,240 perform any in Gola a lot, and they would actually 474 00:29:29,319 --> 00:29:33,640 set up concerts with Aaron Neville volunteering his time. And 475 00:29:33,720 --> 00:29:35,519 I'm going to tell you a story of one of 476 00:29:35,599 --> 00:29:40,000 those that was written by Tommy Mason, who was an 477 00:29:40,519 --> 00:29:43,720 editor on the Angolet, and it says prison is hard, 478 00:29:43,880 --> 00:29:48,440 a smothering place where men become stagnant. Prisoners are bombarded 479 00:29:48,519 --> 00:29:51,079 with public's nation that they are animals who are not 480 00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:54,480 to be trusted, who will prey on law abiding citizens 481 00:29:54,559 --> 00:29:59,480 and who are incapable of rising above their mistakes. In 482 00:29:59,559 --> 00:30:02,440 spite of it these stereotypes, many people are willing to 483 00:30:02,559 --> 00:30:05,160 extend a hand to men behind bars and help them 484 00:30:05,319 --> 00:30:09,119 rise above their worst failings. At Louisiana State Prison in 485 00:30:09,200 --> 00:30:12,559 April nineteen eighty seven, a group of musicians did just 486 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:16,200 that by staging a concert for them. The entertainers were 487 00:30:16,240 --> 00:30:21,079 the Neville Brothers, Charmagne Neville and Real Feelings, and the 488 00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:26,000 Feister Sisters. Seven years earlier, Chuck Coulson of Watergate fame 489 00:30:26,279 --> 00:30:30,279 brought Johnny Cash to perform at Angola through the organization 490 00:30:30,559 --> 00:30:36,400 Prison Fellowship. That was the first concert since nineteen seventy four. Ironically, 491 00:30:36,599 --> 00:30:39,799 following the show in nineteen seventy four, spirits were high 492 00:30:39,920 --> 00:30:44,680 and there was much expectation for future concerts. However, state 493 00:30:44,799 --> 00:30:50,079 politics were gradually moving right. The result was no concerts, 494 00:30:50,119 --> 00:30:53,400 and on the occasion when interested entertainers tried to come, 495 00:30:53,640 --> 00:30:56,759 key administrators were not willing to allow them to put 496 00:30:56,799 --> 00:30:59,880 on shows. The seed for the nineteen eighty seven con 497 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:05,279 insert began coincidentally when in Goolight, editor Wilbert Rido spoke 498 00:31:05,359 --> 00:31:08,480 to a civics group from the New Orleans area. It 499 00:31:08,680 --> 00:31:11,960 happened that Lynn Batson and Aaron Neville of the Neville 500 00:31:11,960 --> 00:31:15,079 Brothers were in the audience. Neville is the head of 501 00:31:15,119 --> 00:31:19,880 the Uptown Youth Cultural and Developmental Center, a nonprofit volunteer 502 00:31:20,039 --> 00:31:23,720 organization he founded in nineteen eighty whose mission is to 503 00:31:23,799 --> 00:31:28,200 help young people become self reliant, contributing members of society 504 00:31:28,440 --> 00:31:32,119 rather than wasting their lives on crimes, drugs, and alcohol. 505 00:31:32,839 --> 00:31:36,279 His brother Charles, served time in Angola during the nineteen 506 00:31:36,440 --> 00:31:41,160 sixties the Bloody Yearshaw. Lynn Batson has her own legal 507 00:31:41,240 --> 00:31:43,839 practice and has worked with the Nevils for about nine 508 00:31:43,960 --> 00:31:47,880 years as their unofficial spokeswoman. When she discovered how long 509 00:31:47,920 --> 00:31:50,960 it had been since a concert had been organized for 510 00:31:51,319 --> 00:31:55,519 Ingola prisoners, she decided to take action. The novels were 511 00:31:55,680 --> 00:31:59,039 one hundred percent in favor of doing the concert, Batten said. 512 00:31:59,279 --> 00:32:03,000 The Feisters, a local harmony group, were interested in coming, 513 00:32:03,119 --> 00:32:06,400 and so was Charmaine Neville in her group Real Feelings 514 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:10,599 and in Gola. Hilton Butler, the newly appointed warden of 515 00:32:10,680 --> 00:32:15,160 the prison, liked the idea. In designated assistant Warden Roger Thomas, 516 00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:18,720 to oversee the projects. There were problems, I guess I 517 00:32:18,799 --> 00:32:21,519 did foresee some of them bats until the end goal light. 518 00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:23,960 It was hard to make people see the amount of 519 00:32:24,039 --> 00:32:28,319 expenses that were incurred in doing something like this. The musicians, 520 00:32:28,359 --> 00:32:31,119 of course were donating their time, but we still had 521 00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:34,599 equipment to move and a range. Roger Thomas admitted I 522 00:32:34,720 --> 00:32:37,039 knew it was going to be a tremendous amount of work, 523 00:32:37,279 --> 00:32:41,200 but concerts providing outlet to the inmates. It's done all 524 00:32:41,240 --> 00:32:43,720 over the country. I never heard of anyone who had 525 00:32:43,720 --> 00:32:47,359 a strong rejection to someone coming in and performing for inmates. 526 00:32:48,160 --> 00:32:51,359 I've always been for things to benefit inmates, as long 527 00:32:51,400 --> 00:32:55,240 as it doesn't interfere with the security operations of the penitentiary. 528 00:32:55,799 --> 00:32:59,519 Wilbert Rito sought out the leaders of the inmate clubs 529 00:32:59,559 --> 00:33:02,880 to come up with donations to cover the expenses of trucking, 530 00:33:03,240 --> 00:33:07,599 paying roadies and other fees. The Angola Amateur Boxing Club, 531 00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:13,400 the Pardon Finance Board and the Angola JCS, the Lifers Association, 532 00:33:13,640 --> 00:33:17,119 the Drama Club, and the Social Educational and Athletic Club 533 00:33:17,279 --> 00:33:21,079 donating money to the event. Prisoners were involved in almost 534 00:33:21,200 --> 00:33:25,240 every aspect of the production. Terry Dekale, Jerry Bell and 535 00:33:25,359 --> 00:33:27,920 a crew of prisoners worked to design a stage that 536 00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:32,839 would accommodate the equipment and entertainers. Thomas was also appreciative 537 00:33:32,920 --> 00:33:36,279 of the cooperation he got from security. You couldn't ask 538 00:33:36,400 --> 00:33:39,119 for a smoother operation. It was done through the coordination 539 00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:43,039 of security, administration and the inmates. This thing went off 540 00:33:43,519 --> 00:33:47,799 without a hitch. Charles Neville, an inmate at Angola, some 541 00:33:48,039 --> 00:33:52,440 twenty years after being convicted for possession of marijuana, flew 542 00:33:52,599 --> 00:33:56,039 in from Oregon to make the concert. Charles is quick 543 00:33:56,119 --> 00:33:58,960 to shide those people whose attitude is if you're going 544 00:33:59,000 --> 00:34:01,160 to wind up in the Pennate tentrary, that's going to 545 00:34:01,240 --> 00:34:04,000 be the end of your life. He admits that for 546 00:34:04,119 --> 00:34:07,240 some people, coming to prison is the end. However, the 547 00:34:07,319 --> 00:34:10,159 fact that you have served time doesn't end your life. 548 00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:15,679 Now a talented saxophonist, he acknowledges that his time behind 549 00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:18,920 bars provided him with both the opportunity and the motivation 550 00:34:19,599 --> 00:34:23,639 to refine his musical technique. The one thing that happened 551 00:34:23,679 --> 00:34:26,639 to me is it got my technical skill together on 552 00:34:26,760 --> 00:34:29,639 the horn, he told the Ngoli. When I came, I 553 00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:32,239 could play, but I hadn't ever sat down and spent 554 00:34:32,360 --> 00:34:37,079 hours and hours every day practicing scales. While at Angola. 555 00:34:37,239 --> 00:34:39,559 Charles had time to do that, and he had the 556 00:34:39,840 --> 00:34:42,920 determination to do it. When I left here, I could 557 00:34:42,960 --> 00:34:46,199 go anywhere and play with anybody. Really, that was the 558 00:34:46,280 --> 00:34:49,000 beginning of a big change in my life. The effort 559 00:34:49,159 --> 00:34:52,320 Charles Neville put into getting the most out of serving 560 00:34:52,440 --> 00:34:55,639 time and his desire to overcome mistakes of the past 561 00:34:55,840 --> 00:34:58,559 opened up a vast new world to him upon his 562 00:34:58,679 --> 00:35:01,880 release from prison. When he was paroled, he went to 563 00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:05,719 New York, where his brother Aaron was enjoying success with 564 00:35:05,840 --> 00:35:09,199 his big hit Tell It Like It Is. Charles had 565 00:35:09,280 --> 00:35:13,480 traveled the world, established himself as an outstanding musician and 566 00:35:13,599 --> 00:35:18,159 now lecturer at Oregon State University. Twenty years had passed 567 00:35:18,199 --> 00:35:21,360 since Charles Neville was an inmate at Louisiana State Prison, 568 00:35:21,480 --> 00:35:25,119 but he hasn't forgotten either the experience nor the people 569 00:35:25,199 --> 00:35:29,519 who are behind bars. Eighty percent of Angola's population is black, 570 00:35:29,679 --> 00:35:32,079 and Charles says, I would like to talk to people 571 00:35:32,119 --> 00:35:34,960 and hear about stories and toasts and things like that, 572 00:35:35,360 --> 00:35:38,280 to which used to be passed down from generation to 573 00:35:38,440 --> 00:35:43,000 generation in black families. Charles had hoped obtaining a grant 574 00:35:43,039 --> 00:35:45,960 would allow him to preserve those stories that have enriched 575 00:35:46,039 --> 00:35:50,760 the black culture. An accomplished musician, father and grandfather, Charles 576 00:35:50,840 --> 00:35:54,199 Neville has an identity, a sense of direction. I think 577 00:35:54,239 --> 00:35:57,960 of myself as a person now, a useful, functional part 578 00:35:58,039 --> 00:36:01,519 of any community. What you do determines what you are, 579 00:36:01,880 --> 00:36:04,280 not what you have done. I know that there are 580 00:36:04,360 --> 00:36:09,119 some people here who are really a number one type person. 581 00:36:09,360 --> 00:36:12,280 They are real people. They just had bad breaks in life. 582 00:36:12,760 --> 00:36:15,440 I just like to say, for everyone, you were going 583 00:36:15,480 --> 00:36:17,639 to get out of here. This is not the end 584 00:36:17,679 --> 00:36:21,519 of the line. But when you get out, that's the beginning. 585 00:36:21,760 --> 00:36:25,079 While Charles Neville's experience may be unique, he was not 586 00:36:25,400 --> 00:36:29,400 the only prison story. Holly Benson of The Feister Sisters 587 00:36:29,559 --> 00:36:32,679 was also at Angola twenty years ago. Her dad was 588 00:36:32,760 --> 00:36:35,400 a basketball coach in California, and during the summer of 589 00:36:35,519 --> 00:36:39,599 nineteen sixty eight, he was the recreation director at Angola. 590 00:36:39,880 --> 00:36:42,719 The real funny thing was the day my dad walked 591 00:36:42,760 --> 00:36:45,800 into the ngolit office. The guy working there was his 592 00:36:45,920 --> 00:36:50,079 old college roommate, and now he was an inmate. Benson 593 00:36:50,159 --> 00:36:53,440 said that her mom and dad and sisters lived outside 594 00:36:53,480 --> 00:36:57,159 of Angola's gates that summer. That's the first place I 595 00:36:57,320 --> 00:37:01,280 ever saw James Booker play she recalled. Booker was leading 596 00:37:01,360 --> 00:37:03,920 a band at the time, and Charles Neville had been 597 00:37:03,960 --> 00:37:07,519 in that band the year before. In the late sixties, 598 00:37:07,639 --> 00:37:10,320 prison was a very hard place and women were not 599 00:37:10,519 --> 00:37:13,960 a part of the overall prisoner routine. We didn't have 600 00:37:14,119 --> 00:37:17,719 that much of contact with prisoners, Holly said. We had 601 00:37:17,760 --> 00:37:20,239 people that will work with you at your house or 602 00:37:20,320 --> 00:37:22,320 with my dad, and then we had a fellow that 603 00:37:22,519 --> 00:37:26,639 used to help my mom around the house. Benson remembers 604 00:37:26,719 --> 00:37:30,000 one inmate in particular. His name was Acey. He used 605 00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:32,400 to be a gardener. He had been here forever. After 606 00:37:32,519 --> 00:37:35,960 his release, Benson said, he just came back. There was 607 00:37:36,039 --> 00:37:38,320 nobody in his family left alive, and there was no 608 00:37:38,519 --> 00:37:41,360 place for him to go. Benson learned of the concert 609 00:37:41,440 --> 00:37:44,800 from the Nevills, and Charles was here before, and I'm 610 00:37:44,960 --> 00:37:48,920 kind of another kind of alumni, she said. Charmaine Neville 611 00:37:49,159 --> 00:37:52,519 is Charles's daughter and a talented entertainer in her own right. 612 00:37:52,679 --> 00:37:55,800 As a young child, she never visited her father in prison. 613 00:37:56,000 --> 00:37:58,400 Matter of fact, she commented, I didn't even know he 614 00:37:58,599 --> 00:38:01,320 was in there until he was all already out. They 615 00:38:01,519 --> 00:38:04,880 kept that kind of secret from me. Once out of prison, 616 00:38:05,039 --> 00:38:07,960 Charles told his daughter about his experience. He told me 617 00:38:08,079 --> 00:38:11,320 stories about Angola. First they were kind of scary, but 618 00:38:11,440 --> 00:38:14,760 then as I got older, I understood Performing at the 619 00:38:14,840 --> 00:38:18,280 prison was the first time experienced for Charmaine. At first, 620 00:38:18,320 --> 00:38:20,159 I was kind of nervous about it, she told the 621 00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:23,800 ngolight before the show. I'm not nervous now that I'm here. 622 00:38:23,960 --> 00:38:26,480 I think the guys are really going to enjoy the show. 623 00:38:27,079 --> 00:38:28,679 I know I'm going to give them a really good 624 00:38:28,760 --> 00:38:31,239 one because I've never been here before, and I know 625 00:38:31,360 --> 00:38:34,119 that they haven't heard any kind of entertainment for a 626 00:38:34,199 --> 00:38:36,880 long time. We're going to make it good as long 627 00:38:36,920 --> 00:38:40,400 as we can. Cyril Neville, at thirty eight, is the 628 00:38:40,519 --> 00:38:44,679 youngest of the Neville brothers. He played music professionally starting 629 00:38:44,719 --> 00:38:48,159 at the age of sixteen, but he says music has 630 00:38:48,199 --> 00:38:50,599 always been a part of my life. My older brothers 631 00:38:50,679 --> 00:38:53,719 rehearsed in my front room, so I have always been 632 00:38:53,800 --> 00:38:57,000 exposed to it. Cyril has very strong feelings about having 633 00:38:57,079 --> 00:39:00,280 the opportunity to perform for the minute in Goal. I 634 00:39:00,400 --> 00:39:03,280 feel like the same way I would feel if I 635 00:39:03,360 --> 00:39:05,960 got invited to South Africa to play for the brothers 636 00:39:06,000 --> 00:39:10,000 and sisters over there. He said of the prisoners of Angola. 637 00:39:10,440 --> 00:39:12,000 They've got a lot of people that I went to 638 00:39:12,039 --> 00:39:14,599 school with and grew up with and everything. It's an 639 00:39:14,679 --> 00:39:18,239 honor to be able to come here and lighten the loads. 640 00:39:19,039 --> 00:39:23,000 The groups did not receive any payment for performing at Angola, 641 00:39:23,239 --> 00:39:25,760 and they didn't expect any, but Cyril said, well, it's 642 00:39:25,880 --> 00:39:28,320 not really for nothing. You could say this as a 643 00:39:28,400 --> 00:39:31,599 labor of love. We might not personally get a chance 644 00:39:31,679 --> 00:39:33,760 to meet any of these people, but I will always 645 00:39:33,800 --> 00:39:35,599 feel good in my heart that we were able to 646 00:39:35,719 --> 00:39:38,840 do something to show that I care. By far, the 647 00:39:38,960 --> 00:39:42,000 most well known of the Nevils is Aaron. He has 648 00:39:42,079 --> 00:39:44,800 been in the music business since the early fifties. His 649 00:39:44,920 --> 00:39:48,320 grandmother comes from the Caribbean Islands, and his uncle founded 650 00:39:48,480 --> 00:39:53,400 a New Orleans based dance group, the famous Wild Tea Chopatulis. 651 00:39:53,679 --> 00:39:56,199 We are a musical family. That's the only way I 652 00:39:56,280 --> 00:39:59,159 can put it, Aaron told the Angolite. Even as kids, 653 00:39:59,280 --> 00:40:01,679 I got a grand he's just two years old. He 654 00:40:01,880 --> 00:40:04,159 just hears music and he's got a move. What the 655 00:40:04,400 --> 00:40:08,559 Nevill's play isn't message music. It's just music. We just 656 00:40:08,639 --> 00:40:11,199 do what comes from the heart. Aaron explained. We got 657 00:40:11,239 --> 00:40:14,599 a unique style which comes from Mardi Gras, Fat's Domino 658 00:40:14,840 --> 00:40:18,639 and four individual brothers plus our rhythm section. Then we 659 00:40:18,800 --> 00:40:22,719 pull everything for all the novels. The trip ton Gola 660 00:40:22,880 --> 00:40:25,239 was a special occasion. We are getting ready to go 661 00:40:25,400 --> 00:40:28,800 back overseas, and I figure this is about giving a blessing. 662 00:40:29,440 --> 00:40:32,119 Arn't Neville said, put it like this. If it wasn't 663 00:40:32,159 --> 00:40:35,760 for the grace of God, this could be me. It 664 00:40:35,960 --> 00:40:38,880 was really important, Aaron said, because we're playing for some 665 00:40:39,119 --> 00:40:41,280 people that aren't going to get a chance to see 666 00:40:41,480 --> 00:40:45,440 no live entertainment. Then it got into the concert and 667 00:40:45,519 --> 00:40:49,119 it said the Feister sisters Holly, Eva and Susie opened 668 00:40:49,159 --> 00:40:52,719 the show. The arena was filled with over a thousand prisoners. 669 00:40:53,039 --> 00:40:56,119 The prisoners were excited and the entertainers were warming up 670 00:40:56,199 --> 00:40:59,719 to their audience. Charmaine Neville and real feelings took over 671 00:41:00,239 --> 00:41:03,239 the Feisters. Charmaine took off with the tune my Mama 672 00:41:03,440 --> 00:41:09,440 don't low know getting down, funky down Hey, that's exactly 673 00:41:09,559 --> 00:41:12,079 out read y'all. And by the end of the song, 674 00:41:12,239 --> 00:41:15,440 she was soaked in sweat and the prisoners were in 675 00:41:15,559 --> 00:41:18,679 a frenzy. She took the audience higher and higher, and 676 00:41:18,800 --> 00:41:22,800 the prisoner's scream yelled and applauded with each gyration of 677 00:41:22,880 --> 00:41:25,840 her hips and changing her voice. I bet they did. 678 00:41:26,480 --> 00:41:29,039 She brought the prisoners out of the prison world and 679 00:41:29,159 --> 00:41:34,360 into a fantasy world where there was only pleasure and joy. Dang, 680 00:41:35,360 --> 00:41:37,880 that must have been one hell of a concert. As 681 00:41:38,119 --> 00:41:41,679 real feelings closed there act, Charmain threw kisses and waves 682 00:41:41,719 --> 00:41:44,400 and smiles. With the sweat pouring off her, she took 683 00:41:44,840 --> 00:41:48,039 a towel and began to dry herself. Then she strode 684 00:41:48,119 --> 00:41:51,599 off toward the fence. The towel sailed into the air, 685 00:41:51,760 --> 00:41:54,920 over the fence and towards the prisoners. A wave of 686 00:41:55,079 --> 00:41:58,360 humanity moved in unison toward the towel, but a guy 687 00:41:58,480 --> 00:42:00,760 from the Fifth roy snatch it out of the air. 688 00:42:01,440 --> 00:42:04,159 More towels were given to Charmaine to toss into other 689 00:42:04,280 --> 00:42:07,360 sections of the arena. When the towel supply ran out, 690 00:42:07,599 --> 00:42:11,760 prisoners began to hurl caps, scarves, handkerchief shirts, t shirts, 691 00:42:12,239 --> 00:42:14,760 any little item they could get autographed and use for 692 00:42:14,800 --> 00:42:18,960 a souvenir into the arena. No sooner had Charmaine autographed 693 00:42:19,000 --> 00:42:22,920 a bundle of clothing than other prisoners hurled their belongings 694 00:42:22,960 --> 00:42:26,639 towards her. Act three was the big event. The Nevils. 695 00:42:27,119 --> 00:42:30,239 The brother took up where Charmaine left off. They greeted 696 00:42:30,280 --> 00:42:34,599 old friends. What you Know, Dut rang out, Robert Norwood 697 00:42:34,800 --> 00:42:37,800 in Chicho were a couple of names that burst through 698 00:42:37,840 --> 00:42:40,559 the air. The Nevels opened up with songs from the 699 00:42:40,639 --> 00:42:43,760 new hit album and performed many tunes from the past. 700 00:42:44,400 --> 00:42:48,400 They performed a moving rendition of Hey Pocky Way and 701 00:42:48,599 --> 00:42:52,960 a stirring version of the gospel tune Amazing Grace, signaled 702 00:42:53,000 --> 00:42:54,760 out the close of the show, and I'll tell you 703 00:42:54,880 --> 00:42:57,199 what I've heard Aaron Neville sing Amazing Grace, and it 704 00:42:57,400 --> 00:42:59,880 is amazing. I loved it. I enjoyed it in a 705 00:43:00,199 --> 00:43:03,639 want to come back, said Susie of the Five Star Sisters. 706 00:43:04,159 --> 00:43:06,679 Aaron Neville told us it was so great, We're going 707 00:43:06,760 --> 00:43:09,920 to come back and do it again. 708 00:43:11,039 --> 00:43:11,400 Speaker 1: And in the. 709 00:43:11,440 --> 00:43:16,239 Speaker 2: Postcrypt it says this story prompted Pardon Board Chairman Lawrence 710 00:43:16,440 --> 00:43:19,320 Hand to suggest Charles Neville that paid his dues and 711 00:43:19,360 --> 00:43:22,880 should file an application for a pardon. Charles was granted 712 00:43:22,960 --> 00:43:26,440 a full pardon by Governor Edwin Edwards. The Nevils offered 713 00:43:26,519 --> 00:43:30,400 to return, but the Administrative effort is only now being 714 00:43:30,559 --> 00:43:32,800 made to bring them back to hand Gola. There has 715 00:43:32,880 --> 00:43:36,239 been no concert at the prison by professional entertainers since 716 00:43:36,320 --> 00:43:41,880 the novels in nineteen eighty seven. There you have it. 717 00:43:42,760 --> 00:43:48,239 Three short stories today from the records of Wilbert Rido. 718 00:43:48,559 --> 00:43:51,920 Those were completely different, right. We talked about a wildlife refuge. 719 00:43:52,079 --> 00:43:55,480 We talked about a concert at Angola, we talked about 720 00:43:56,039 --> 00:43:59,599 a park at Angola. And I bet those are some 721 00:43:59,719 --> 00:44:03,280 new things for some of you. So I appreciate you listening. 722 00:44:03,960 --> 00:44:08,000 And until next time, I'm Jim Chapman for what do 723 00:44:08,039 --> 00:44:11,639 you evertime? We're your host of Bloody Angola, a podcast 724 00:44:11,800 --> 00:44:14,480 one and forty two years in the making. The complete 725 00:44:14,519 --> 00:44:16,800 story of America's Bloody is present. 726 00:44:17,679 --> 00:44:42,159 Speaker 1: Peace a Wall Street line, shackle Chaine, who's some girdie? 727 00:44:44,199 --> 00:44:50,440 It's calling my name? There is no mercy and this 728 00:44:50,679 --> 00:44:58,840 been a tentery juice ass the huge stream game. Wrangle three. 729 00:45:01,000 --> 00:45:09,519 I'm here, but I f'm me to die inside these walls, 730 00:45:11,199 --> 00:45:13,000 inside the wild. 731 00:45:14,519 --> 00:45:15,840 Speaker 2: And when the walk 732 00:45:17,519 --> 00:45:32,679 Speaker 1: As I know, it's abody angle, obody angle.