Lorton Prison was built in 1910 in Occoquan, Virginia. It was built with the intention of being a reformatory for inmates. Instead of inmates sitting there all day, they would benefit from a hard day’s work. The women picketing the White House for women’s rights would be taken to Lorton where they were force fed. Lorton started to face many overcrowding issues due to an underfunded prison as well as low prison guard staff. This made conditions tense in the prison for the inmates and the guards. In an attempt to ease the inmates, Lorton threw its annual jazz festival where guests such as Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra would perform. Ronald Reagan launched his ‘War on Drugs” campaign, which would disproportionately impact African American men. This resulted in a large number of incarcerated Black men in the prison system, changing Lorton racial demographics. Unfortunately, tensions continued to rise and would often result in fights, strikes, and even riots. The Christmas Day Riot was a notorious day in Lorton Prison History as it would last up to 20 hours with many inmates injured. With overcrowding still on the rise, the Potomac Relocation Partners suggested that the inmates should be moved to West Virginia facilities. The inmates would receive better living conditions. After 91 years, the Lorton Prison would be shut down, relocating much of its inmates to D.C prisons. Today, much of the prison structures still stand and is repurposed as an arts center.
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