The Angolite, an award-winning magazine produced by the inmates at Angola Prison in Louisiana, recently published an extensive review of the developments in the death penalty in 2008. The article by Lane Nelson addressed nationwide trends, Supreme Court decisions, the issues of cost, the risks of executing innocent people, and the problem of inadequate representation. The article concluded, “[N]ational debates, legislative studies, court rulings and blue-ribbon commission recommendations in 2008 clarified even more reasons why capital punishment is an unworkable system.”

(L. Nelson, “Death Watch: Year in Review,” The Angolite, January/February 2009). See Articles. The Angolite was recently recognized for its journalistic excellence with an award through DPIC’s Thurgood Marshall Journalism Awards. A digital single-lens-reflex camera was given to the magazine for future use.