Inmates at the Louisiana State Penitentiary can get state licenses in landscaping and horticulture.

(5 Dec 2014) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus021978
VOICE-OVER:
Nats of former prison inmate
BO BLACKWELL KNOWS A THING OR TWO ABOUT SECOND CHANCES.
HE GOT ONE FROM THE MOST UNLIKELY OF PLACES�
Nats of former prison inmate pruning hedges in a nursery
DRUG CHARGES LANDED HIM A YEAR IN THE LOUISIANA STATE PENNITENTAIRY AT ANGOLA - HOME TO THE STATE'S MOST VIOLENT CRIMINALS AND MURDERERS.
SOUNDBITE: Timothy "Bo" Blackwell, Former Angola Inmate:
"It was definitely an eye-opening experience to know that one bad decision could lead you back there for the rest of your life."
BLACKWELL WENT INTO A PRISON RE-ENTRY PROGRAM FOR SHORT-TIMERS - OR THOSE WITH LONGER SENTENCES BUT GOOD BEHAVIOR RECORDS.
INMATES TAKE COURSES AND CAN ACQUIRE STATE LICENSES IN HORTICULTURE, LANDSCAPING, EVEN MOSQUITO CONTROL.
THE GOAL - A BETTER SHOT AT LANDING A JOB AFTER RELEASE.
SOUNDBITE: Dalton Wood, Inmate:
"It's taught us a lot of things being here, as if, going out we can actually be something that we never thought we could be."
Nats of mule drawn carriage rolling through field
ROUGHLY THE SIZE OF MANHATTAN ISLAND, ANGOLA INCLUDES ONE OF THE LARGEST WORKING PRISON FARMS IN THE NATION - WHY INMATES OUTSIDE OF THE PROGRAM ARE ALSO PUT TO WORK.
SOUNDBITE: Isaac Smith, Inmate:
"You've got peace of mind out here �"
ISAAC SMITH, SERVING A LIFE SENTENCE FOR SECOND-DEGREE MURDER, SAYS THE FARM IS FREEDOM.
SOUNDBITE: Isaac Smith, Inmate:
"Being inside the penitentiary like we are now, it used to be one of the worst in the nation, it's a blessing."
ANGOLA ALSO TURNED OUT TO BE A BLESSING FOR BLACKWELL AND HIS FAMILY.
SOUNDBITE: Rosanne Blackwell, Inmate's Mother:
"It saved my son's life. That's what it did."
Nats of bobcat hauling young trees in Folsom, La.
BLACKWELL, A FATHER OF TWO, SAYS HE'S GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO RIGHT HIS WRONGS �
SOUNDBITE: Timothy "Bo" Blackwell, Former Angola Inmate:
"It's really tough to know that some people never get a second chance."
AND GET HIS LIFE BACK ON TRACK.
STACEY PLAISANCE/ASSOCIATED PRESS
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[@Robostate]

It is truly criminal that Louisiana requires licenses for landscaping and horticulture.

[@johnwolf4447]

I live in Louisiana. It's a shame that you have to go to prison to get an education. We don't build schools down here, we only build jails and prisons. The truth is if we had more vocational training schools, less people would end up in prison

[@bookieaustin2244]

John Wolf Louisiana some else im born and raised here

[@michaelg8642]

I was very sad when delgado closed their horticulture program... i was going to enroll and what do you know..

[@thetruthhurts131]

There are plenty of schools there. People just choose the streets

[@patrickguillory3914]

If you are spending lots of time in prison, learn how to write songs........ Music is big business.........You can sale music for a lot of money.