Law Review Articles by Professor Andrea Armstrong

Slavery Revisited in Penal Plantation Labor (2012)

This Article argues that the Thirteenth Amendment allows forced inmate labor only when the labor approximates the conditions of involuntary servitude, rather than the conditions of slavery. Further, this Article argues that society must critically examine the types of labor we require our inmates to perform and prohibit the imposition of slavery, even when the enslaved person is an inmate.

No Prisoner Left Behind? Enhancing Public Transparency of Penal Institutions (2014)

This Article explores the social, economic, and constitutional reasons underlying the need for greater transparency. At its core, this Article argues that if the goal of a prison system is both punishment and rehabilitation, our prisons are failing institutions that result in the creation and maintenance of a racial and socio-economic underclass.

Race, Prison Discipline, and the Law (2015)

This Article discusses the potential impact of race on prison disciplinary decisions and the legal validation of these racial norms through judicial deference. In doing so, this article first explores how implicit bias can influence prison disciplinary decisions, and second examines the role of the law in validating these race-based decisions.

Racial Origins of Doctrines Limiting Prisoner Protest Speech (2016)

This Article examines the racial origins of two foundational cases governing prisoner protest speech to better understand their impact in light of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Death Row Conditions Through an Environmental Justice Lens (2017)

This Article attempts to paint a broader picture of the environmental dangers for individuals incarcerated on death row by applying an environmental justice lens to the experience of Glenn Ford during his time on death row at Angola.

The Missing Link: Jail and Prison Conditions in Criminal Justice Reform (2019)

This Article attempts to connect the dots between conditions in jails and prisons and broader criminal justice reform efforts. This Article highlights Louisiana conditions and reforms and also draws from other states and national data to establish broader trends.