BURL_CAIN_OC BURL_CAIN_OC_VO BURL_CAIN_VO BURL_CAIN_VO_OC CAROL_VO CATHY_FONTENOT_OC CATHY_FONTENOT_OC_VO CATHY_FONTENOT_VO CATHY_FONTENOT_VO_OC DONALD_LAMANA_VO DUCRE_OC DUCRE_VO DUCRE_VO_OC ERIC_BUVAS_OC FEMALE_IN_BLACK_JACKET_OC FEMALE_IN_GLASSES_VO_OC FEMALE_VOICE_1_VO FEMALE_VOICE_2_VO FEMALE_VOICE_3_VO FEMALE_VOICE_4_VO FEMALE_VOICE_5_VO FEMALE_WITH_BLACK_HAIR_OC GARY_YOUNG_VO GROUP_VO_OC HARVEY_SLATER_OC HARVEY_SLATER_OC_VO HARVEY_SLATER_VO HARVEY_SLATER_VOOC HARVEY_SLATER_VO_OC HOST_VO JIMMY_SMITHOC JIMMY_SMITHOC_VO JIMMY_SMITH_VO JOE_GREEN_VO JOSEPH JOSEPH_REDNECK_WARD_OC JOSEPH_REDNECK_WARD_OC_VO JOSEPH_REDNECK_WARD_VO JOSEPH_REDNECK_WARD_VO_OC KENNETH_DUPUIS_OC KENNETH_DUPUIS_OC_VO KENNETH_DUPUIS_VO KENNETH_DUPUIS_VO_OC KISSINGER_OC_VO KISSINGER_VO_OC LENNY_NICHOLAS_OC LENNY_NICHOLAS_OC_VO LENNY_NICHOLAS_VO LENNY_NICHOLAS_VO_OC MALE_EMT_1_OC_VO MALE_EMT_1_VO_OC MALE_EMT_2_OC_VO MALE_GUARD_10_OC_VO MALE_GUARD_2_VO_OC MALE_GUARD_3_VO MALE_GUARD_4_OC MALE_GUARD_5_OC MALE_GUARD_5_VO MALE_GUARD_6_OC MAL _GUARD_7_OC_VO MALE_GUARD_8_VO_OC MALE_GUARD_9_VO MALE_IN_BLACK_HAT_OC MALE_IN_BLUE_SHIRT_OC MALE_IN_GLASSES_VO MALE_IN_GLASSES_VO_OC MALE_IN_RED_CAP_OC MALE_IN_STRIPED_SHIRT_VO_OC MALE_IN_WHITE MALE_IN_WHITE_CAP_OC MALE_IN_WHITE_CAP_VO MALE_IN_WHITE_SHEET_OC MALE_IN_YELLOW_TSHIRT_OC MALE_RODEO_ANNOUNCER_VO MALE_VOICE_10_VO MALE_VOICE_11_VO MALE_VOICE_12_VO MALE_VOICE_13_VO MALE_VOICE_14_VO MALE_VOICE_15_VO MALE_VOICE_16_VO MALE_VOICE_17_VO MALE_VOICE_1_VO MALE_VOICE_2_VO MALE_VOICE_3_VO MALE_VOICE_4_VO MALE_VOICE_5_VO MALE_VOICE_6_VO MALE_VOICE_7_VO MALE_VOICE_8_VO MALE_VOICE_9_VO MALE_WITH_BROWN_HAIR_OC_VO MALE_WITH_BROWN_HAIR_VO MICHAEL_FEAZEL_VO ROBERT_ACHORD_OC ROBERT_ACHORD_OC_VO ROBERT_ACHORD_VO_OC RONNIE_FRUGE_VO RONSEN_NOBLE_VO_OC SCOTT_DUNCAN_OC TODD_TIGER_PLAISANCE_OC TRAVIS_JOHNSON_OC TRAVIS_JOHNSON_OC_VO TRAVIS_JOHNSON_VO TRAVIS_JOHNSON_VO_OC HOST VO Previously on Louisiana Lockdown... BURL CAIN VO In Louisiana, they use Angola as a deterrent. “You be good or we’re going to send you to Angola.” HARVEY SLATER VO Bad things happen quick here. This was labeled as the bloodiest prison in the world. CATHY FONTENOT VO Every day, it’s about life and death. It’s always the unexpected here. RONNIE FRUGE VO We wasn’t made to be behind bars. We were made to be free. HARVEY SLATER VO You got inmates that will be good all year, just so they can do this rodeo. BURL CAIN VO OC Good food, good medicine, good playing, good praying, good prison. MALE IN GLASSES VO OC This is klsp 91.7 and 102.3. Goldy’s going to slow the vibe down here a little bit, you all, and tell you, you know the rodeo time is coming up. The warden wants us to have a good time. But fellows, whatever you do, stay out of trouble. I guarantee you if you do it right, God’s going to bless you. But he ain’t going to bless no mess. HOST VO Inside Angola prison’s sprawling compound, thousands of inmates face another day of confinement... MALE VOICE 2 VO Got to be. HOST VO Most men know they will never live beyond these walls, but they can choose how to pass their time within them. MALE GUARD 2 VO OC Chow, pill call. Lady on the tier. HOST VO ...live defiantly and face a life of isolation in Camp J... RONSEN NOBLE VO OC I hate it here. I want to go out there where everybody at. You know? HOST VO ...or follow a path of rehabilitation and gain hard-earned privileges. In the world of Angola, the decision is yours. BURL CAIN OC Hey, Mia. BURL CAIN VO OC What do you say, Mia? Good morning to you! HOST VO The man that oversees that world... HOST VO ...is Warden Burl Cain. BURL CAIN OC It’s a big place. But you kind of get a good view from here. HOST VO The warden surveys his universe from his home on prison grounds. BURL CAIN VO OC And so you can see all across the place. Camp D way over there. Camp J, it’s 18,000 acres, 22 miles around, 5400 prisoners. Sometimes I look and say, “Man, you got to be responsible for all this.” And I like it. HOST VO From an outsider’s perspective, there’s not much to like. BURL CAIN VO Well, let’s go to the office. HOST VO The warden spends his days with thousands of Louisiana’s worst criminal offenders. BURL CAIN VO OC The crimes at Angola is going to be murder, rape, armed robbery, habitual felons. You done something horrible to be here and you got to live it down. That person that you put in a grave, and you became God, and, and passed out judgment of death to a fellow human being, that’s horrible, so we try to change them. HOST VO Changing violent men is no easy task. But then again, the warden’s no ordinary guy. BURL CAIN OC How you today? I need to put my shades on. HOST VO He employs a system of punishment and reward unlike any other prison in the world. BURL CAIN VO OC Their behavior determines how they’re treated. If you really do bad, you wind up in the cellblocks. If they’re remorseful, and sorry, and follows all the rules, then you can move your way up all the way on through the system and you get a lot of benefits. MALE VOICE 3 VO Need you to secure the ward patrol. HOST VO Inmates who have worked their way to the top are referred to as trustees. JOSEPH "REDNECK" WARD OC This is it, not much. HOST VO Joseph Ward is one of the youngest trustees at Angola. He lives in a 90-man dorm with other elite inmates. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC VO They call me “Redneck.” Why they call me “Redneck” is, I guess, because I’m a redneck. JOSEPH "REDNECK" WARD OC Dumb ass country boy, I guess. I don’t know. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD VO When I got arrested, I was 17. One count of manslaughter, first-degree kidnapping on a second-degree robbery. HOST VO The state sought the death penalty, but because he was a minor, “Redneck” received a lesser sentence. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC VO I have 100-year sentence. The day I got arrested, I was full of drugs and alcohol, and I had no care for life. You know, I didn’t care if I lived or died. There’s some good pictures in here. When I was 12 years old, my grandpa died. I really liked him, you know? And when he died, that’s when all my troubles started. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD VO OC When I was 14, I tried to kill myself. I got scars all down my arm. I stayed in trouble, running with the wrong people. It got me here. And I said, “Well, I just screwed my whole life up. You know, it’s over with now for sure.” HOST VO “Redneck” may have found himself locked up for life, but he wasn’t ready to give up. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC VO And then one day, talked to my mom and she asked me to promise her something. I said, “What?” She said, “I won’t get in no more trouble. I walk away from fights and all that.” I said, “I can’t give you my word that I will, but I’ll give you my word I’d do my best.” JOSEPH REDNECK WARD VO And then Warden Cain gave me a chance and made me trustee. MALE GUARD 3 VO You all line it up, pair it off. HOST VO Recently, “Redneck” landed one of the best jobs an inmate can have... MALE VOICE 4 VO Let all the mares free. HOST VO ...training horses on Angola’s farm. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD VO Trying to live right. Straighten myself up. HOST VO “Redneck” heads out for his job on the equine unit...just down the road at Angola’s staff community, known as the B-line. HARVEY SLATER OC I said, “Hush!” HOST VO “Redneck’s” supervisor, Lieutenant Colonel Harvey Slater, begins his day. Slater lives here on prison grounds with his wife and four kids. HARVEY SLATER OC VO Yeah, I mean, this is home, a gated community. All right, go out. HOST VO And he wouldn’t have it any other way. HARVEY SLATER OC VO Good one, good one. I’m as B-line as they get, man. You ready to rumble? HARVEY SLATER VOOC I’ve been working here 29 years at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. My father worked here. I was raised here. This is like, this is my home. I’ve got my education right here at Angola, street education. HOST VO Slater runs the prison’s equine unit. Here, convicts train horses for use at Angola and other law enforcement facilities around the country. HARVEY SLATER VOOC Hey, you all ready? Get them over there on J Pasture. Move them across the road. JOSEPH "REDNECK" WARD OC Okay. HOST VO These inmates are among Angola’s most elite trustees. HARVEY SLATER VOOC These people, they work for me. They have to have ten years in, in the prison and they have to have a good conduct record. It’s a lot of work on their part to get to here to be a trustee. JOSEPH "REDNECK" WARD OC Come on. Get in there. HARVEY SLATER VOOC “Redneck” has been working for me about three or four months and he, he’s got a lot to learn. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD VO OC So you notice he, he shows a lot of white in his eyes early in the morning. MALE IN WHITE CAP OC Yeah. He don’t want you messing with him. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC Yeah. I probably show a lot of white in my eyes early in the morning too. MALE IN WHITE CAP VO Yeah, you do. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC I just don’t want to be messed with. HARVEY SLATER VOOC “Redneck,” what I see in him, he’s got a lot to overcome. JOSEPH "REDNECK" WARD OC Go on out there, boy. HARVEY SLATER VOOC He really hadn’t found himself I don’t think. I can spot them a mile off, man, you know, I mean I don’t, it don’t look good for him, I mean, really. MALE IN WHITE CAP VO I don’t know what it is about me and you, but we always like psychopaths to ride. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC Yeah, I know. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD VO He’s excited. HOST VO For “Redneck,” every day is a struggle to stay on the right track. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD VO Steady. All right. MALE IN WHITE CAP OC Yeah, skip. HOST VO But with his new job, he’s got something to look forward to. MALE IN WHITE CAP VO Bring them down that fence, “Redneck!” JOSEPH REDNECK WARD VO OC When I’m riding, it’s like all this, it don’t exist. Ha! It’s like freedom. HOST VO “Redneck’s” post at the horse lot isn’t the only thing keeping him going. This year, he hopes to compete in Angola’s world-famous rodeo, where inmates can experience freedom for one day. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD VO OC I tried to stay out of trouble all year just for the rodeo. Maybe I’ll get a chance to prove that, you know, I’m really not a bad person. HOST VO Inmates aren’t the only ones gearing up for the rodeo. Angola’s staff are preparing to welcome 10,000 spectators onto prison grounds for the first of five rodeos that the prison holds each Sunday in October. HARVEY SLATER VO I have four weapons in Tower One. There’s two shotguns and two rifles. When the line of convicts come through and we’ll throw another guard in here. JIMMY SMITH VO J to Angola 38. Send an officer to Camp J right away. HOST VO But Assistant Warden Cathy Fontenot, one of Angola’s highest ranking officers... FEMALE VOICE 2 VO Medical six to Angola. HOST VO ...has a more pressing matter to attend to. CATHY FONTENOT OC There’s something happening at J. You all hearing it? GARY YOUNG VO I’m hearing it, but I don’t know what. I know they called for backup with EMT, so I don’t know what’s happening with it. CATHY FONTENOT OC There’s something at Camp J. They called for an ambulance. MALE VOICE 5 VO One Ash one to Alvin Smith. MALE VOICE 6 VO All right, give me clearance. CATHY FONTENOT OC VO What happened? Do you know? You didn’t hear? Did you all hear what happened? No, okay. FEMALE VOICE 3 VO CATHY FONTENOT OC I think we may have had a death. CATHY FONTENOT OC I don’t know whether it was a suicide or whether it’s a murder. HOST VO It’s autumn at Angola Prison. Staff are working around the clock to prepare for the annual inmate rodeo, which is just three days away. JIMMY SMITH VO Send an officer to Camp J right away. HOST VO But that doesn’t mean they get a break from the everyday challenges of running the nation’s largest maximum security prison. CATHY FONTENOT OC What we got? FEMALE VOICE 1 VO They just pronounced him dead at 11:59. CATHY FONTENOT OC Okay. HOST VO Assistant Warden CATHY FONTENOT receives shocking news from Camp J, the prison’s disciplinary unit. CATHY FONTENOT OC I need Jones, real quick. Thank you. CATHY FONTENOT VO OC He’s got a long criminal history. “Jones pointed the gun at the back of her neck. Oh, will threaten to kill her and kill himself on several occasions.” Can you all check this record out to me? He’s just killed himself. Deceased. CATHY FONTENOT OC I’m going to Camp J. HOST VO Camp J is the lowest tier on Warden Cain’s graded system of corrections. MALE VOICE 7 VO Got to be HOST VO It’s where he sends the most defiant inmates. MALE IN WHITE SHEET OC I got to get out of here. HOST VO Stripped of all privileges, men here live on lockdown in stifling solitary cells 23 hours a day. CATHY FONTENOT OC How’s the mood on the tier? JIMMY SMITHOC You know, it’s been real quiet out here. CATHY FONTENOT OC Hey, how you doing? CATHY FONTENOT OC VO When you walk down that tier, it was very calm. It was very quiet. Hey. No one asked questions. Hey. And it’s not out of fear. They know that something really bad happened today. JIMMY SMITH VO And we found an offender with a sheet tied around his neck in their cell. He was serious about what he did just looking at the way the knot was tied. CATHY FONTENOT VO OC Did he put the knot on this side or this side? JIMMY SMITHOC VO No, ma’am. He had it tied around the bars right here. And I took a knife and we started cutting the sheet. And we brought him out the cell and to the tier and we immediately started CPR. CATHY FONTENOT VO OC It’s our job to protect them from themselves and it’s failure. But in this particular case, I think he was hell bent on, on doing it. CATHY FONTENOT VO OC He’s gone, off the count. Not supposed to happen like that. It’s like one getting away. I mean, he’s not going to serve his time. It’s easy to sit and look at that and say, “Oh, they’re so hopeless. They don’t have any hope.” But most people still find hope, you know. We give them a life sentence, but they actually find a life here. HOST VO While some inmates suffer a hopeless existence in Camp J, others rest their hopes on Angola’s inmate rodeo. MALE GUARD 4 OC How many sacks you all got on that wagon, gentleman? MALE IN BLUE SHIRT OC There’s going to be seven. HOST VO Among them is Travis Johnson. TRAVIS JOHNSON OC Oh man, that’s good exercise. HOST VO Travis lives in a working cellblock and spends eight hours a day picking vegetables on Angola’s farm. TRAVIS JOHNSON OC This is some serious conditioning here. HOST VO It’s a step up from Camp J, but still a disciplinary unit. TRAVIS JOHNSON VO I want to lose, lose about ten, 15 pounds. JOE GREEN VO I see you doing yoga in the yard. TRAVIS JOHNSON VO OC You’re a straight clown. You’re stupid. TRAVIS JOHNSON VO Well, my charge is murder and I’m sentenced to life with no parole and hard labor. When I came to prison, I was deep into drugs. MALE GUARD 5 OC Now line it up. TRAVIS JOHNSON VO OC When I came to prison, I was deep into drugs. Unless someone had intervened along that road, I’d probably be a junkie. I’m not glad I’m in Angola, but I’m glad I’m not an addict. When all you’re doing is chasing highs, that’s a miserable life, you know. It’s like having two people inside of, you know. You’ve got your sober you, you’ve got your loaded you. Me sober, I’d never be in prison. Sober me, good guy, you know. TRAVIS JOHNSON OC VO I should be going back into population pretty soon. Previously to now, I was in the main prison. They found a tattoo gun in my work area. HOST VO When officers discovered Travis hiding illegal contraband, they sentenced him to 90 days in a working cellblock. TRAVIS JOHNSON OC VO I’ve been doing my 90. I’m hoping to get relocated soon. I ain’t got no write-ups since I came here. I sure wish they send me on back to the population, so I can get ready for the rodeo. HOST VO Inmates in the working cellblocks can’t participate in the rodeo. TRAVIS JOHNSON VO OC Me not being able to rodeo would really kind of get me down. I’m just frustrated because I really basically did this to myself. MALE GUARD 5 VO Line it up behind the tool shed. HOST VO If Travis can’t win back his spot in the prison’s general population, he’ll miss his chance to ride. TRAVIS JOHNSON VO OC I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m cutting it real close. That’s one big step for me. If I make it into population, I know one thing, I’m going to stay straight. I’ll be ready to rock. TRAVIS JOHNSON VO Man, it’ll hurt my heart to miss that rodeo. MALE VOICE 8 VO Come on. HOST VO Nearby at the horse barn, “Redneck” enjoys the privileges that Travis hopes to one day earn. LENNY NICHOLAS VO I like that mare. She don’t flinch at all. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC Yeah, that is cool. I get to get the reigns today? LENNY NICHOLAS OC Yeah, you get the reigns today. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC Yeah. HOST VO “Redneck’s” mentor, LENNY NICHOLAS, has been in prison longer than “Redneck’s” been alive. Lenny’s been working under Lieutenant Colonel Harvey Slater for more than 15 years. HARVEY SLATER OC Let go of the saddle horn, boy. HOST VO He’s one of the best horse trainers they’ve got. LENNY NICHOLAS VO OC She’s a little nervous. Whoa. HARVEY SLATER VO He learnt from one of... HARVEY SLATER OC VO ...my best friends that, that taught him and he took it to heart. He actually has been, he’s been a workhorse, you know. HOST VO Now Lenny is taking that expertise and training the next generation. LENNY NICHOLAS OC “Redneck.” JOSEPH REDNECK WARD VO OC Hey. LENNY NICHOLAS VO Come to me. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC All right. LENNY NICHOLAS OC I want you to come and let her smell you. LENNY NICHOLAS OC VO That’s a good girl. Ah, that’s good. Whoa. Straighten your saddle out. Good job, good job. “Redneck’s” a young kid, young and dumb. He’s 28 years old. When I first came to Angola, I was 27 years old. I got it. As long as I’m here, you’re fine. LENNY NICHOLAS VO OC When I was in the free world, I used to shoot drugs in my veins. I’ve smoked marijuana. I swallowed LSD. I regret that because that stole my life. But I’ve trained myself and I’m a grown responsible adult now. I try to do the best I can do without getting in any trouble and I try to help someone every day. Going to ask you for a little trot. You ready? Let her go. Give her reigns. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC I am. I am. I... LENNY NICHOLAS OC I got you. HOST VO In all of his years at Angola, Lenny’s seen plenty of cocky young guys like “Redneck” slip up and land in solitary at Camp J. LENNY NICHOLAS VO OC You can stay young and foolish all you want because, you know, if you do the wrong thing, you’re not going to come out here tomorrow and ride a horse. You’re going to be in your handcuffs in a cell by yourself, looking stupid, saying, “I shouldn’t never done that.” HOST VO Coming up... KENNETH DUPUIS VO Today, we’re going to review Travis Johnson. HOST VO ...Travis gets one chance to prove he deserves a shot at the rodeo... KENNETH DUPUIS VO You really need to improve on your record. HOST VO ...and at the main event, Slater’s on high alert. HARVEY SLATER VOOC I’m looking for everything from a nuclear warhead to a nickel. HOST VO Angola’s staff are still reeling from the recent suicide in Camp J, but they can’t slow down. Tomorrow, 2,000 inmates will be permitted to mix with civilians at Angola’s famous inmate rodeo. If security isn’t air tight, things could go terribly wrong. KISSINGER OC VO Rodeo call out! Sunday morning! HOST VO Warden Cain releases the list of inmates who have been approved to participate. KISSINGER VO OC Final copy. If you’re not on here, the only one that can approve a change is the colonel. HOST VO “Redneck,” who’s serving 100-year sentence, has been waiting for the rodeo all year long. Though he has next to no training, he’s hoping for his big shot at glory. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD VO OC I’m on bareback this weekend. That’s a good thing. There ain’t no feeling like riding a bucking animal, you know? It’s, it’s rough. The rodeo’s rough. Dang. I’m ready to do it. Wait all year for that. I’m just ready to go riding. HOST VO In the afternoon... MALE GUARD 6 OC …the truck. HOST VO ...Warden Cain calls a meeting with all the inmates who will attend the rodeo. BURL CAIN VO OC Well, I come here every year to talk to them to try to really make them think at the last minute how serious this is and how important it is to them. This is their chance to show the public that they’re well-behaved and they’ve changed their lives. I mean, they have to be worthy of doing it or I wouldn’t let them do it anyway. If they’re not going to act right, then they’re not being rehabilitated, so then why would we fool with them? HOST VO At tomorrow’s rodeo, Warden Cain intends to show the world how well he runs his prison. MALE GUARD 7 OC VO You all can’t sit right here. You all get on the bleachers. HOST VO For that to happen, he’ll need extreme cooperation from thousands of convicted felons. BURL CAIN VO OC Now listen to me close. This is important. You all be on your best behavior and show the public what you are. So what did I say? I’ve got over two or 3,000 totally rehabilitated inmates who could leave here, and function safely, and securely in the public. But I want you all to prove it. BURL CAIN VO OC I hope you all do well, and good luck, and have a good time. Thank you all. Thank you all. HOST VO Not all staff members at Angola are as excited for Sunday as the warden. BURL CAIN OC Take your letters. HOST VO Harvey Slater has been working rodeo security every Sunday in October for nearly three decades. It’s not his favorite time of year. HARVEY SLATER OC VO I don’t like working on Sundays. I’m the kind of person who needs to go to church. I got to have some Jesus in my life or I’ll be bad. HOST VO Slater’s seen Angola at its worst and he knows the rodeo puts prison security in a compromising position. HARVEY SLATER OC VO It’s a nightmare for me. I mean you try to secure something like that. It’s almost impossible. That’s why I try to stay on guard all the time. Bad things happen quick in prisons. You know, when it does happen, it’s usually bad and it’s usually quick. MALE GUARD 8 VO OC Davis, Frasier. HARVEY SLATER VO Well, a lot of people say this rodeo needs to be stopped. Prisoners get too much freedom. Well, maybe so. HARVEY SLATER OC VO I don’t agree with everything that’s done here, but it’s not my job to agree. It’s my job to follow, you know. I’m here and I’m going to do what I’m supposed to do to make it go down as easy as I can. HOST VO As a staff member living on the B-line, Slater’s participation in the rodeo is mandatory. But down the road at Camp D, TRAVIS JOHNSON is hoping for a miracle. After serving a 90-day punishment in a working cellblock, he’s up for review. TRAVIS JOHNSON OC Oh man, I hope they’re going to cut me loose today, I think. KENNETH DUPUIS OC VO Four, three, six, seven, two, eight. Travis Johnson. Today, we’re going to review TRAVIS JOHNSON to see...if he can be released from maximum security into a medium security environment. HOST VO If the disciplinary board approves, Travis will move back into general population and win a last minute spot in the rodeo. KENNETH DUPUIS OC VO How you doing, Travis? Today, we’re going to be reviewing your record to see if you can change in custody from maximum security to a medium custody environment. All right, they found a tattoo gun on you and you were sentenced to a custody change from a maximum working cellblock. And you came to us at Louisiana State Penitentiary on 5 7 01. Since then, 23 write-ups, disciplinary reports. You really need to improve on your record. TRAVIS JOHNSON VO This is one of my down times right here. I ain’t going to lie. But I’ve matured a lot. I know it’s going to be a close call. I just hope that everything just works out right. HOST VO Coming up... CATHY FONTENOT VO OC We have about 2,000 inmates out here. HOST VO ...Angola’s security regime is tested at the rodeo... CATHY FONTENOT VO OC We have security in uniform. We also have some undercover security here. We’re prepared for anything. HOST VO ...and “Redneck’s” ride... GROUP VO OC Ooh! HOST VO ...takes a turn for the worse. Angola’s annual inmate rodeo starts tomorrow. HARVEY SLATER OC Go and get everything up and let’s start grooming. HOST VO As staff finalize the security strategy for this high-risk event... MALE GUARD 9 VO And I will try to send you a couple of cadets if I got them. HOST VO ...TRAVIS JOHNSON hopes to get back in the saddle. KENNETH DUPUIS VO OC And you really need to improve on your record. HOST VO But it won’t happen unless the review board approves a move out of disciplinary housing. KENNETH DUPUIS VO OC Do you have anything you want to tell the board that help in the decision maybe about sending you to a medium custody dormitory? TRAVIS JOHNSON OC VO See when I first came here I didn’t know nothing about an L-blade, or picking peas, or, or cutting grass, so it was fresh. KENNETH DUPUIS VO OC Your record has improved over the last two years. So at this time, I’m going to go ahead and recommend you for a medium custody class. TRAVIS JOHNSON OC You’re serious, huh? KENNETH DUPUIS VO OC Yep, and when you go out there, you don’t mess it up. TRAVIS JOHNSON VO Oh man, I’m straight. You don’t have to worry about me. KENNETH DUPUIS OC I’m giving you a chance. TRAVIS JOHNSON VO Oh, man. TRAVIS JOHNSON OC You won’t hear from me. Not unless it’s something good, nothing bad. KENNETH DUPUIS OC All right. TRAVIS JOHNSON VO OC They gave it to me. I’m going back in medium custody, so I’m ready to ride. You know, I’ve had a string of bad fortune. Looks like everything’s just kind of falling in place this time. So Shaping up to be a good one for me. I’m good to go. MALE IN GLASSES VO Good morning. MALE IN GLASSES VO We want to send prayers out to all of the participants in the rodeo. Remember those animals are dangerous. Be careful. HOST VO Rodeo Sunday has finally arrived at Angola Prison. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC VO Make sure I get all of this stuff in my bag. My hat, my boots, they got to be with me at all the time. I don’t never leave my hat. HOST VO “Redneck,” a hot-headed young cowboy, has kept his record clean all year for the chance to compete today, which is no easy task for him. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC VO I’m in it mostly for the fun of it. If you worry about getting hurt, you shouldn’t get on them. HOST VO Like all inmates in Angola’s rodeo...“Redneck” is not a trained professional. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC I’m just going to try to stay on him, really. HOST VO By competing, he’s risking injury, paralysis, or even death. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC You ready? I’m ready. Open your mouth. HARVEY SLATER VOOC “Redneck” really wants to do the rodeo, but he’s got a lot to learn. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC You’re fighting me pretty good this morning. HARVEY SLATER VO He’s going to get broke up. HARVEY SLATER OC VO It’s just the way it goes. I’ve done seen it too many times. Hey, you all ready? Off to the rodeo we go. HOST VO As the morning wears on...spectators from all corners of the American south file through Angola’s front gates and into the rodeo arena. FEMALE IN BLACK JACKET OC This is great! I love it! MALE IN BLACK HAT OC It’s the best rodeo in the world. CATHY FONTENOT VO I mean, this is an unusual place to come on a Sunday... CATHY FONTENOT OC ...afternoon after church. MALE RODEO ANNOUNCER VO Please be advised you’re entering a correctional facility. MALE VOICE 9 VO Put the bullets in there. MALE RODEO ANNOUNCER VO All weapons, ammunition, alcohol, and drugs must be deposited at the front gate before entering the institution. HOST VO Cathy makes sure security is covered from all angles. CATHY FONTENOT VO Make sure nobody is looking at death row from that side. HOST VO With more than 10,000 free citizens on prison property... CATHY FONTENOT VO I like to keep them guessing. HOST VO ...it’s crucial to make sure people stay in sanctioned areas. CATHY FONTENOT VO It’s tripled in size since the warden’s been here. We’ve got our bandstand now. Of course the 10,000 seat all covered rodeo arena. It’s probably the, one of the finest rodeo arenas in the south. We probably have about 2,000 inmates out here. MALE IN WHITE T-SHIRT OC VO Don’t cheat yourself, treat yourself. Belts! Belts! Belts! CATHY FONTENOT VO And we’ve got the crowd intermingling. MALE VOICE 10 VO Get your fresh lemon tea. Get your alligator poor boy. HOST VO Most of the inmates at the rodeo are confined to a gated area. But 600 trustees are permitted to walk freely among the crowd. Security is ready to pounce at any sign of contraband, violence, escape, or worse. MALE GUARD 10 OC VO Backside of the cage . CATHY FONTENOT VO We’re, we’re prepared for anything. I can tell you. MALE IN RED CAP OC Get your rodeo program. MALE VOICE 11 VO Tell you about the rodeo. Let you know where everything located. You won’t get lost. TRAVIS JOHNSON VO OC This is my first time really being in front of a crowd like this. That makes, that is real special. I get a chance to be a part of something that’s, that’s totally good. That’s me right there. TRAVIS’ MOTHER VO Travis! HOST VO To his surprise, Travis’ family made the long trip from Thibodaux to see him compete. TRAVIS JOHNSON OC Oh, man! HOST VO Travis, like all inmates from general population, must communicate with outsiders through a locked gate. TRAVIS’ MOTHER OC Hey, boy! TRAVIS JOHNSON OC Oh, man. Come holler at your boy! FEMALE VOICE 4 VO What’s up? TRAVIS JOHNSON OC Oh, man, what’s happening? FEMALE VOICE 5 VO Where’s your cowboy hat? TRAVIS JOHNSON OC VO Hey, look I had to makeshift my hat. SCOTT DUNCAN OC So you all go ahead and get back up to the stands. TRAVIS JOHNSON VO OC All right. All right. No problem. Well, it’s, it’s been hard for them, I know. They won’t express it too much to me because they don’t want to get me down. But I know it’s hard for them. I’ve been close to my family all my life. Every time I’ve been away from my family, I get in trouble. HOST VO Today, Travis wants to prove to his family that he’s on the right track. MALE WITH BROWN HAIR OC VO Oh, say can you see... FEMALE IN GLASSES VO OC I know he changed and I know he can be a free man, you know. But that’s the law of the land. Nothing you can do about that. MALE WITH BROWN HAIR VO ...banner yet wave. TRAVIS JOHNSON OC Whatever happens, I got to put on a show for my family. Make it worth their time, you know. TRAVIS’ MOTHER OC My eyes are going to be closed, but I’ll be watching. MALE WITH BROWN HAIR OC VO ...and the land of the brave. TRAVIS JOHNSON VO I got to stay focused and ride, ride, ride. TRAVIS JOHNSON OC Up next... MALE VOICE 12 VO The horse ran over him. He’s out. HOST VO ...“Redneck” gets his shot at glory. DUCRE VO One buck and he’s knocked off. DUCRE OC One hit. Don’t talk about it, be about it. MALE VOICE 1 VO He’s got mayhem on him mind. Get out of his way! HOST VO Angola Prison’s Annual Inmate Rodeo is underway. “Redneck,” a confident novice rider... JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC I’m ready to go and get this stuff started. HOST VO ...and Travis who was just released from a punishment unit... TRAVIS JOHNSON OC I got to go out there and put it on the dirt. HOST VO ...prepare for the next event... MALE VOICE 13 VO Everyone on! Go now! HOST VO ...the bucking bronco. HOST VO Harvey Slater is on security detail. HARVEY SLATER VO It’s a, a security nightmare. I’m watching everybody and everything. MALE RODEO ANNOUNCER VO Broncs! HARVEY SLATER VO The whole time I’m just scanning. I’m looking for everything, from a nuclear... HARVEY SLATER OC VO ...warhead to a nickel, cell phones, drugs, alcohol, women, the smell of C-four. You got to be prepared for the worst and hope for the least. I’m paranoid, but that’s my job. HOST VO “Redneck” is on deck to ride. LENNY NICHOLAS VO OC A lot of guys, they want to participate because all they want to do is come and let the crowd see you. If Joseph comes out here injured and he gets crippled for the rest of his life or killed, then that’s the end. There’s no more rodeos his whole life. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD VO I really don’t care. I mean, I don’t want to get hurt. Don’t get me wrong. But if I do, I know that’s the chance I took. MALE VOICE 14 VO Oh, hey, hey, hey! Watch out! Watch out! Watch out! LENNY NICHOLAS OC Who we got next? MALE VOICE 15 VO “Redneck.” MALE RODEO ANNOUNCER VO Well let’s ride! HOST VO This is the moment “Redneck” has anticipated for the last 11 months. It’s his chance to prove to himself, to his boss, and to the world that he’s more than just a convicted killer. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD VO OC When I’m riding, you know, it’s like freedom for eight seconds. You get in that chute, get down on that horse. And when they open that gate, it’s you and him. And, I mean, you can feel it’s nothing but power. LENNY NICHOLAS OC Whoo-hoo! MALE RODEO ANNOUNCER VO All right, Joseph. Got to set your jaw. Let’s rock and roll. Yeah! FEMALE WITH BLACK HAIR OC Oh! MALE VOICE 16 VO The horse ran over him. He’s out. MALE RODEO ANNOUNCER VO Joseph Ward. DUCRE VO OC One buck! Knocked him off. He ain’t come out one jump and he knock him out. He’s on the ground. DUCRE VO He’s the best rider here, he told everybody. That’s why you never brag. DUCRE VO OC One buck and he’s knocked off. One hit. Don’t talk about it, be about it. MALE EMT 1 OC VO He fell on his head. He fell on his back. Okay? I don’t know what other injuries he has. MALE EMT 2 OC VO It looked like he might of have had some loss of consciousness, possibly when he got ran over by the horse. We’re not sure. He’s going to go to the, the treatment unit on the main campus to get checked out by some doctors. LENNY NICHOLAS VO OC Joseph may be crippled. It may be worse. HOST VO For “Redneck,” the rodeo is over. But for Travis Johnson, the show must go on. MALE RODEO ANNOUNCER VO Travis Johnson! HOST VO In the first round of Angola’s inmate rodeo, “Redneck” was trampled by a bronco a mere two seconds out of the gate... FEMALE WITH BLACK HAIR OC Oh! HOST VO ...and his condition remains tenuous. MALE EMT 1 VO OC He fell on his head. He fell on his back. The horse came back and ran over him. HOST VO Now TRAVIS JOHNSON steps into the ring with his family looking on. MALE RODEO ANNOUNCER VO Travis Johnson! TRAVIS JOHNSON VO I’m nervous, I’m happy, I’m excited. I’m thinking this is my chance to really redeem myself. MALE VOICE 17 VO Oh! Watch out! Watch out! Hey! Hey! Hey! He’s hurt! Hey, he’s hurt. TRAVIS JOHNSON OC I just need a bandage. I’m okay. All I need is a bandage. I’m good, man. MALE IN WHITE CAP OC You all right? TRAVIS JOHNSON VO OC Yeah, I’m good. MALE IN WHITE CAP OC You sure you’re straight? TRAVIS JOHNSON OC Yeah, I’m good. Did I get it? MALE IN WHITE CAP OC Yeah. MALE RODEO ANNOUNCER VO Come on, folks. Tell him something. HOST VO Despite his rough tumble, Travis stayed on the bronco long enough to nab first place. TRAVIS JOHNSON OC Man, I got the W, son. So damn good, I got the W. HOST VO With this win, Travis will move on to next week’s rodeo with a shot at the championship. TRAVIS JOHNSON VO OC I found out a real lot about myself. I get satisfied with things I don’t have to be satisfied with. I can, I can do better. TRAVIS JOHNSON VO Being a champion for me in that aspect is doing the best I can. And let God take care of the rest. TRAVIS JOHNSON OC Man! MALE RODEO ANNOUNCER VO Thank you for tuning in to the 47th Annual Angola Prison Rodeo. The wildest show in the south. Every Sunday in October. CATHY FONTENOT VO OC Today was great. We had a sold out show. Everybody had a good time. Thank you all for coming. You all be safe. The warden’s happy. Everybody’s happy. Good rodeo! Another good one. BURL CAIN VO OC I’m real proud of the inmates. These murderers and hardened criminals that did the right thing. That’s pretty cool. There’s moral men in this prison that will not hurt you again. HOST VO As the inmates head back to their cells, one is missing from the pack. “Redneck” regained consciousness and is recovering at the prison hospital. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC VO Man, I’m sore. I must of fell under him or something, man, because all down my legs, my knee. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC VO Well, I tried, you know. I, I ride some and some ride me. I don’t remember too much. I remember coming out of the chute. Next thing I know I’m in an ambulance and they’re asking me do I know where I’m at? That’s about as bad as getting drunk and waking up with an ugly girl next to you. Yeah. HOST VO “Redneck’s” boss, Harvey Slater, gives him a lift back to his dorm... HARVEY SLATER VOOC You got to jump in the back! HOST VO ...and he doesn’t bring good news. HARVEY SLATER OC VO No rodeo times one month. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD VO You work all year to try to stay out of trouble, and everything, and to go to the rodeo. And then the first rodeo, you get knocked out, and they take it from you, you know. It kind of sucks. HARVEY SLATER VOOC You really might be freaking hurt. You might need to be in a bed somewhere. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC It sucks. HARVEY SLATER VOOC I hurt his feelings there. HARVEY SLATER VOOC Sometimes prisoners are the biggest titty babies in the world. HOST VO Next time on Louisiana Lockdown... CATHY FONTENOT VO Rise and shine. HOST VO ...Cathy struggles to balance life as an assistant warden with life at home life... CATHY FONTENOT VO OC I’m having trouble with my middle boy, Chad. I feel a lot more confident at the warden thing. HOST VO ...when a drug scandal... CATHY FONTENOT VO OC The guy did have marijuana for sure and maybe some heroin. HOST VO …erupts at the rodeo. CATHY FONTENOT OC Okay, I’m coming. I’m coming. DONALD LAMANA VO Sugar bags, they put their weed in it. And it was in the crack of his butt. HOST VO And an inmate reunites with his estranged son. TODD TIGER PLAISANCE OC I’m so sorry. HOST VO For additional scenes and more, visit the official Louisiana Lockdown website at animalplanet.com louisiana. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD VO And I had a good upbringing. I mean, my dad and my mom, country people, you know. And they didn’t raise me to come to the penitentiary, you know. When my dad was about around my age I guess. HARVEY SLATER VO OC I went crazy in that house right back there. Yeah, I used to rule this street. I was the godfather of this street. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC That one’s done huh? LENNY NICHOLAS VO Yeah. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC All right. JIMMY SMITH VO Send an officer to Camp J, right away. CATHY FONTENOT OC What we got? FEMALE VOICE 1 VO They just pronounced him dead at 11:59. CATHY FONTENOT OC Okay. Hey, hang on a second. Hang on a second Miss Dionne. Hey, Doc, Dr. Wellner, can you hang on one second, sir? I got, Miss Dionne, I got Carol on the other line. Sir, can I call you right back? We’ve just had an incident. Wait Carol, I got, hang on. Thank you. Carol... CAROL VO Yeah. CATHY FONTENOT OC VO ...I’m sorry. Go ahead. I need to know the last time mental health saw him. CAROL VO On the computer, it’s the fourth. CATHY FONTENOT VO OC Carol, I told... CAROL VO What’s wrong with him? CATHY FONTENOT OC Carol, he just committed suicide. October, yeah, October fourth? CAROL VO Yeah. But I, he was just on suicide watch. HOST VO Cathy rushes to pull the inmate’s record. CATHY FONTENOT OC Can I pull the record or IS already has it? He probably only has one then. Thank you. CATHY FONTENOT VO OC What I’m looking at is institutional record right now. He’s been here exactly a year. He’s got a long criminal history. He’s 26 and already a fourth felony. Jones was arrested on an arrest warrant for four counts of second degree kidnapping. “Jones pointed the gun at the back of her neck. Told her he’ll kill himself on several occasions.” And when he threatened people, he always wanted to kill himself as well. You know, it was just unfortunate. TRAVIS JOHNSON VO OC You discover cocaine. Oh man, this is what I like, you know, that speed. Doing 100 all the time, I, I discovered that I really, really enjoy doing, going real fast in my mind. No matter what. One hit is too much and then a million is not enough. You know what I’m saying? When you’re hooked you’re hooked. LENNY NICHOLAS OC Hopefully you won’t get thrown through the ceiling. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC Yeah. LENNY NICHOLAS VO OC When “Redneck” came to this facility, he wanted to learn to train horses. I asked him to come over here and work with me and I would teach him. LENNY NICHOLAS OC You follow me? JOSEPH REDNECK WARD VO You see that? That was nice. LENNY NICHOLAS OC That was a nice turn. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC All right, big girl. HOST VO After a successful day training horses, “Redneck’s” even more psyched for the upcoming rodeo. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD VO OC Man, when I get over there and I get down on him, and I can feel him. I mean, banging up in that chute and... LENNY NICHOLAS VO Yeah. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC VO ...and I tie him. It’s like when they open his gate, it’s me and this animal. And it’s like he’s going to bring smoke. You can just feel his power. LENNY NICHOLAS VO Well, you feel it. It’s flowing. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC Yeah. And you know when they open that gate, it’s you and him. LENNY NICHOLAS VO Yeah. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC And anything can happen. LENNY NICHOLAS VO OC Yeah. If they do, that ground won’t feel good when you hit it, bro. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD VO OC If you want to be a cowboy, you want to ride, you better be focused on what you’re doing because you can get pretty banged up. HOST VO Even while cautioning “Redneck”... JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC Right. HOST VO ...Lenny can’t help but remember the thrill of riding in the rodeo. LENNY NICHOLAS OC And I love that. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD VO Yeah. LENNY NICHOLAS OC VO I mean, it’s just, it’s just a rush. And I used to do drugs years ago. And I’m, I never done drugs in 40 years. I mean, this is a better rush than drugs ever gave me. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD VO OC There’s, there’s a lot going on real fast. Ain’t no feeling like it in the world. I’ll keep going as long as I can. It’s either something bad going to happen or it don’t. You know, ain’t no sense in worrying about it. If it happens, just hope it don’t hurt, don’t hurt too bad. We’ll find out rodeo Sunday. HOST VO While inmates throughout the prison buzz with anticipation for the rodeo... HOST VO Cathy wraps up her inquiry. She debriefs with head investigations officer ROBERT ACHORD . ROBERT ACHORD OC VO Here’s some documents related to that guy. So what may have led him to do this? CATHY FONTENOT OC It’s been a year to the day that he got here at Angola. ROBERT ACHORD OC Okay. CATHY FONTENOT OC VO A very violent offender, homicidal, suicidal. ROBERT ACHORD OC He hadn’t had a visit this year. CATHY FONTENOT OC Yeah, he doesn’t have much family contact. ROBERT ACHORD OC VO No. We didn’t find a note or anything. It’s nothing to indicate that anybody else could have been involved in it. In a case like this, I don’t know that there’s anything we can do... CATHY FONTENOT OC Yeah. ROBERT ACHORD VO OC ...you know, if an offender really has it in his mind to hurt himself. I’ve been here ten years and I think it’s only had about six suicides. CATHY FONTENOT OC Yeah. ROBERT ACHORD OC VO This is just a shock for everybody for something like this to happen. You know, you do everything you can and just wonder sometimes if anything else we could’ve done. BURL CAIN OC VO If you’re going to be worthy enough to walk around here with the public and you’re going to be worthy enough to rub shoulders with them, you had better be a moral person and a good person with good intentions. CATHY FONTENOT VO The rodeo helps the public understand what the corrections’ mission is all about and that’s correcting deviant behavior. And the last time that these inmates were with the public, they were different people. CATHY FONTENOT VO They’re being judged for their behavior as being a participant in a rodeo today. Not being a person that did committed some horrible, atrocious crime in ten years ago or even 30 years ago. BURL CAIN OC Okay, you got a question. What is it? MALE IN YELLOW TSHIRT OC Can we bring water? I was, we heard, some of us heard that we couldn’t bring water anymore. BURL CAIN OC VO You can bring water. Don’t carry it back with vodka in it. Okay. HOST VO With the most important business out of the way, Warden Cain offers up some advice to the cowboys in the group. BURL CAIN VO OC What you want to do is be brave. Here’s the thing about a bull. If he’s coming towards you, you wait, and you wait, and you wait until the last minute, and then you just step aside. BURL CAIN VO OC And you all are cool. You all are doing good. You all... HARVEY SLATER VO OC Doing my thing and the next thing I know, I’m in the freaking middle of a road fight for my freaking life. And I’m talking about it’s for my life. This dude got a freaking blade with a handle on it and is beating the out of me. And I’m freaking barehanded fighting this dude. And if it wasn’t for another officer picking up a hoe fighting with him with a hoe, he’d a killed me. HOST VO Before Travis can ride, he’ll need one last thing. TRAVIS JOHNSON OC Ah. HOST VO He locked his spurs up in storage before moving into the cellblock. TRAVIS JOHNSON VO I need these spurs. I need these spurs to ride. MICHAEL FEAZEL VO Do you remember the combination? TRAVIS JOHNSON OC VO No! Oh, I forgot. Damn. This is the key to what I need. Man, that’s why I got the worst memory in the world. Wait! Hold on! Hold on! 20, 66. One, yeah. I got it. I got it. I got it. I got it. I got it. I got it. I got it. TRAVIS JOHNSON VO OC Picture this. Ah, there they go. TRAVIS JOHNSON OC VO Aw, man, wonderful. Last minute come through. Man, that’s, that’s perfect! LENNY NICHOLAS VO OC You hit the ground, you get up and you get moving. MALE IN STRIPED SHIRT VO OC Oh, man. I’m scared to death. LENNY NICHOLAS OC VO Get on him, man! Wow, he trying to cow kicking. You saw that? HOST VO Veteran cowboy Lenny Nicholas gave up riding in the rodeo years ago. LENNY NICHOLAS VO OC I left for, left for over ten years. HOST VO In the end, it was just too dangerous. LENNY NICHOLAS VO OC Every one of them over there’s a nervous wreck right now. You want to win the money. But it’s always in the back of your mind, you could get hurt. You don’t know what’s going to happen. Get on up there. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD VO OC You got banged up too, didn’t you? What you got? ERIC BUVAS OC I got my ear torn off my head. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC 01:52:08 Oh, yeah. 01:52:09 GRAPHICS ON SCREEN You’re not that bad. ERIC BUVAS OC You’re not that bad. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD OC VO Yeah. I didn’t feel nothing hurting or nothing at the time. You know I asked for that. I went messing with that horse. He didn’t come messing with me. As long as I can remember, I done stupid stuff. I don’t know. JOSEPH REDNECK WARD VO OC I kind of kept my mouth shut before I said something that’d bite me later, you know. That’s what gets me in trouble most of the time is my mouth. You know saying stupid stuff. But, you know, they can only push you so far. I mean, I been in trouble almost my whole life, you know, and, you know, it ain’t got me nowhere but in the penitentiary. So I think it’s about time for me to change, you know.