Voices of the Experienced (VOTE) et al. v. James LeBlanc et al.
3:23-cv-1304
Rights Behind Bars, in collaboration with the Promise of Justice Initiative, has filed a groundbreaking lawsuit challenging the harsh and unconstitutional conditions of forced agricultural labor at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, known as Angola. This lawsuit brings together the collective efforts of grassroots nonprofit organization Voice of the Experienced (VOTE) and four incarcerated men currently at Angola, who represent all those compelled to work on the so-called “Farm Line.” Angola, once a plantation site, now spans 18,000 acres and forces incarcerated people, primarily Black men, into agricultural labor under oppressive conditions. These individuals toil in extreme heat and humidity, often lacking basic safety gear. This labor serves no legitimate purpose, with men forced to perform grueling tasks like digging and refilling holes or manually picking blades of grass.
The lawsuit asserts violations of the Eighth Amendment, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Rehabilitation Act. The case is a putative class-action on behalf of all people forced to work the Farm Line with two sub-classes: people with disabilities and people convicted by non-unanimous juries. Discrimination against people with disabilities is a consequence of the extreme conditions of the Farm Line. Every person incarcerated at Angola is at risk of serious harm due to their exposure to extreme heat during the summer months in Louisiana. This is especially true for people with medical or mental health conditions, or who are taking certain medications, that make them more susceptible to heat-related injuries. In addition to incorporating these allegations into the lawsuit, we have also asked the US Department of Justice to investigate this matter.
At the time of filing, Rights Behind Bars and partners requested a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order to prevent Angola from operating the Farm Line when the heat index reaches or exceeds 88 degrees. Federal Judge Brian Jackson responded by ordering state officials to immediately rectify the “glaring deficiencies in their heat-related policies” at the facility, marking a victory for temporary relief from forced labor in life-threatening extreme heat.
These protections remained in effect through the summer of 2024. On March 26, 2025, we asked Judge Jackson of the Middle District of Louisiana to grant a second preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order. At the time this lawsuit was filed in 2023, Angola’s policy was to issue a heat alert when the heat index reached 88 degrees. For this upcoming summer, the State inexplicably changed their policy to increase that threshold to 91 degrees, exacerbating the danger of working outside for people forced to work the Farm Line.
Judge Jackson granted a Second Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety related to the operation of the Farm Line during periods of extreme heat. In his order, Judge Brian Jackson required the State to monitor temperature and humidity every 30 minutes and to issue a “Heat Alert” when the temperature meets or exceeds 88 degrees.
The Louisiana Department of Corrections is continuing to fight against these basic protections for workers, including by appealing the Second TRO to the Fifth Circuit.
We are awaiting rulings on class certification and a second Preliminary Injunction.
Read our Filings:
Motion for a Preliminary Injunction and Temporary Restraining Order
Memo in support of Motion for PI and TRO
Memo in support of Motion for Class Certification