Report: The Incarceration Rate of Louisiana is Over 5 Times Higher than Saudi Arabia

The United States’ Incarceration Crisis: Louisiana’s Rate Dwarfs Even Saudi Arabia’s

Photo by Hasan Almasi on Unsplash

Louisiana’s staggering incarceration rate of 1,094 per 100,000 people stands as a stark indictment of the American criminal justice system. This rate is more than five times higher than Saudi Arabia’s 207 per 100,000, a country often criticized for its harsh justice system.

While the United States as a whole has the world’s sixth-highest incarceration rate at 531 per 100,000, Louisiana’s rate is more than double the national average. This means that Louisiana locks up a higher percentage of its population than any democratic country on Earth.

Here are some specific examples of controversies within the Louisiana prison system:

1. Angola Prison Rodeo: The Louisiana State Penitentiary (Angola) hosts a controversial prison rodeo where inmates participate in dangerous events…