Usually, you won’t find me saying nice things about convicted criminals; I frequently write about our flawed justice system, which seems more and more to be soft on thugs and uncaring about the actual victims of crime. That being said, forgiveness is a key component of Christianity, and attempts to rehabilitate convicts and try to show them some humanity can sometimes be for the good.
To that end, a notorious Louisiana prison came up with a novel way to show some of its prisoners that there is a better life than one of violence and crime. Thinking outside the box, they arranged for a father-daughter dance:
For the first time ever, a daddy-daughter dance was hosted at Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as the infamous Angola Prison.
The fathers, who had not seen their daughters in years, stood in fitted tuxedos as they waited to be reunited, with many of them wearing formalwear for the very first time.
The daughters were able to walk into a space that had been transformed into a ballroom and share a special dance, one which many had been waiting their entire childhood to experience.
Even if some of those being held behind bars certainly deserve their fate, it still must have been moving for their daughters to at least meet their fathers.
A Louisiana prison hosted a father-daughter dance that reunited incarcerated dads with their little girls.
— David J Harris Jr (@DavidJHarrisJr) December 1, 2025
Hoping this becomes a turning point for every father in that room. 🙏🏽pic.twitter.com/0GnHD80Zh2
The above tweet has a great message: “Hoping this becomes a turning point for every father in that room.” While I’m not sure that every convict here can be rehabilitated, even if it’s just one or two, that’s a win.
Feel-Good Friday: Prison Father-Daughter Dance and Family Interaction Foster True Rehabilitation
As our Jennifer Oliver O’Connell reported, the group God Behind Bars — an organization that introduces inmates to Christianity — hosted a similar “prom” at California's San Quentin Rehabilitation Center in November.
She wrote:
One of the things I love about my church is that it not only broadcasts the services to some of the state's correctional facilities, but offers support initiatives throughout an individuals' incarceration and assist with their reintegration into society. Studies have shown that family and community support are a crucial component for a prisoner's rehabilitation, and a powerful tool for their return to a regular life.
Angola Prison held its first-ever daddy-daughter dance, giving incarcerated fathers who hadn’t seen their daughters in years a chance to reunite, share a meal, and finally dance together. pic.twitter.com/Gp59Jshbzb
— Complex (@Complex) December 1, 2025
Doubtless, while some of these prisoners may never be capable of being rehabilitated, and I’m a firm believer in “do the crime, do the time,” it’s the daughters that I hope come away with something from this. My own mother never knew her biological father (he was not a criminal; there were other complicated reasons), and it haunted her forever. At least the young ladies will have a moment that they may remember for the rest of their lives:
Prior to the dance, professional makeup artists tended to the daughters, volunteers packed gift bags with donated beauty products and Monique from Amor Suits designed custom tuxedos for each father.
At the beginning of the event, each father presented his daughter with flowers, a bible and a handwritten letter.
More than just a dance, families were able to share a Thanksgiving meal prepared by volunteers, and a local artist from Baton Rouge painted live portraits of fathers and daughters.
The night ended with a grand finale, as the fathers performed a choreographed routine that they had been practicing for weeks before.
Obviously, this won’t solve the crime epidemic in America, and it doesn’t absolve the convicted of the crimes they may have committed. But if it turns around the lives of one man by bringing God into his life, or empowers even one of their daughters, then it seems to me like a positive thing.
