Between 2015 and 2016 almost 18,000 Australians emailed then-Attorney General of Louisiana, Buddy Caldwell, calling on him to release Albert Woodfox from prison.

Thank you to all who took action for Albert and helped bring attention to his case. You showed the Louisiana authorities that people around the world were outraged by Albert’s ordeal and contributed to his release.

What next?

Woodfox’s release should mark a pivotal new chapter in reforming the use of prolonged solitary confinement in prisons in the US and around the world. Louisiana must commit to making urgent reforms to solitary confinement, and chart a course toward doing its part in ending the overall crisis of mass incarceration.