Guest Commentary On Tuesday, President Biden called for an end to the use of private prisons in the Department of Justice. I’m glad to hear we’re taking this step as a country because it’s heinous that people profit off of incarceration. But this is also a good time to highlight the growth of privatization across the policing and prison industrial complex, which will not be impacted by this executive order. Here in Saranac Lake, for example, the village has hired Lexipol, a private firm that has repeatedly come under scrutiny for its use-of-force policies following officer-involved shootings of unarmed black men. Lexipol has been hired to rewrite our police policy and local policing manuals. Meanwhile, communities and activists are calling for democratization and a reimagining of justice systems at local, state and national levels. Profit-driven systems will always be an enemy to democratic processes and the creative work required to actually build safe, diverse and caring
Investigation underway, possible criminal charges after death of Angola inmate Share Updated: 4:22 PM CST Jan 18, 2021 WDSU Digital Team Share Updated: 4:22 PM CST Jan 18, 2021 WDSU Digital Team Possible criminal charges are pending following the death of a Louisiana State Penitentiary inmate. The West Feliciana Parish Sheriff s Office and the Louisiana Department of Corrections launched a joint investigation into the incident, according to a news release issued by Angola.The news release said the deceased inmate was involved in a fight with another inmate in his cell and died at the hospital. It happened around 11:45 p.m. Saturday. Correctional officers making routine rounds discovered the fight. The other inmate involved in the fight is in investigative segregation at this time, according to the news release.An autopsy will be performed this week.