EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Literacy

This class is offered to inmates who do not possess a high school diploma or GED (General Equivalency Diploma).  Placement in this class is dependent on TABE (Test of Adult Basic Education) Test results.  Classes are held Monday – Friday at Main Prison, Camps C, D, & F.  Students are TABE tested quarterly.

 GED (General Equivalency Diploma)

This class is offered to inmates who do not possess a high school diploma.  Classes are held Monday-Friday at Main Prison, Camps C, D, & F.  Students are TABE tested quarterly.

 ABE (Adult Basic Education)

This class is offered to inmates who possess a high school diploma or GED, but have low- test scores.  This class is designed to raise skill levels for admittance to vocational school.  Students are TABE tested quarterly.

 SSD (Special School District #1)

This program is designed for special education students.  Students are screened, monitored and taught by Special Education Teachers provided by the Louisiana Department of Education.

The following classes are offered by Louisiana Technical College.  Entrance is dependent on TABE scores.  All students are tested prior to admittance.

 Automotive Technology

This program provides specialized classroom instruction and practical shop experience to prepare individuals to engage in the servicing and maintenance of all types of automobiles at the entry level.

 Carpentry

This program prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to lay out, fabricate, erect, install, and repair wooden structures and fixtures using hand and power tools.  The program also includes instruction in areas such as common systems of framing, construction materials, estimating, blueprint reading, and finish carpentry techniques.

 Culinary Arts

This program prepares students to work in service, production, fast foods and baking areas of the food service industry.

 Graphic Communications

This program prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills in the use of tools, test equipment, operating equipment, materials, and processes to make ready, operate, and maintain photography and printing equipment for the production of process color printing.

Horticulture

This program is designed to prepare students for employment in the areas of production and management in horticultural enterprises. It includes instruction and practical experience in the lab, which is equipped and managed according to industry standards.

Welding

This program is designed to prepare individuals for employment in the field of welding. Instruction is provided in various processes and techniques of welding including oxyfuel cutting, carbon arc cutting, shielded metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, flux-cored arc welding, gas metal arc welding, pipe-welding, plasma arc cutting, blueprint reading, weld symbols, and joints.         

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS)

The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola has 95 inmate students enrolled for the Spring 2008.  Inmates enrolled in the seminary have the option of graduating with an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Christian Ministry.  The seminary offers 6 classes which are instructed by certified professors for a total of 16 hours per semester.

The vision for this program has expanded to include interns within the ministry.  Each of the interns must have earned at least 90 credit hours with NOBTS.  All of the interns are assigned and mentored by a graduate minister.

The Providence Learning Center of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary has implemented a one year Faith-based Certificate Program at the Louisiana State Penitentiary Extension Center.  After completing this one year curriculum, the inmate will be awarded a certificate.

There are currently 143 inmate minister interns serving the inmate population at Angola.  In addition, there are 22 NOBTS graduates who are serving as missionaries at other correctional facilities throughout the state of Louisiana.

The P.R.E.P./Re-Entry training provided by LSP actually prepares an inmate for return to society by providing him with job skills, teaching him how to apply for and keep a job, instructing him to cope with daily stressors, developing communication skills, and causing him to be aware of his personal skills.  This rehabilitative training program enables the inmate, once released, to compete in the employment market, to be immediately prepared for employment without further training and to have confidence in his abilities to re-enter society as a productive member.

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