Louisiana convicts from the Washington Parish area have responded to Hurricane Katrina by providing relief. Inmates from Washington Correctional Facility and Angola State Penitentiary are volunteering at emergency-aid stations, cleaning up waste from city streets, and handing out supplies to residents. Inmates from Angola State Penitentiary also spent time handing out mattresses for shelters, while other prisoners have used axes and chainsaws in attempts to re-open roads.

The Washington Correctional Institute houses roughly 1,200 male offenders, many of which have been sent - along with corrections officers - to help repair damaged parishes. While corrections officers note that only prisoners that have excellent disciplinary records are allowed to leave the prison grounds to help, many of the inmates are simply happy for the chance to help.

“I've been a thug since 1966, and this feels good. When people come up and you look into their faces…and then they thank you…it makes you tear up,” said Mr. James Cox, a 53-year old inmate that is helping with the hurricane relief.