Lousiana Prison Complex Runs Self-Sustaining Farm

In 1997, National Geographic’s Oscar-nominated documentary “The Farm” explored the sprawling, 18,000 acre agricultural complex that is Angola prison in Louisiana, home to an inmate population of which 95% are serving life sentences.

Interestingly, since the original film took place, the prison has developed a mostly self-sustaining agricultural community where they raise millions of pounds of vegetables, hundreds of workhorses, and thousands of cattle. On June 16th, the filmmakers will debut “A Decade Behind Bars: Return to the Farm,” on National Geographic, revisiting Angola to examine the changes and innovations that have taken place at the prison which have led to a surprising  74 percent drop in acts of violence.