After More than 40 Years Albert Woodfox Was Released from Prison

February 24, 2016

This week the New York Times reported that a man had been released from prison after spending many years in solitary confinement. Albert Woodfox arrived at Louisiana State Penitentiary in 1971. He was released on February 19, 2016, after more than 40 years behind bars. Much of his time was spent in solitary confinement because of a crime he did not commit.

In 1972 a white correctional office was killed at Louisiana State Penitentiary. Woodfox and two other men were charged for his murder. No forensic evidence linked Woodfox to the crime. There convictions were based only on testimony from witnesses. Since that time, it has come to light that those witness testimonies were problematic.

For more information, read the New York Times article “For 45 Years In Prison, Louisiana Man Kept Calm and Held Fast to Hope” by clicking here.