Once called the bloodiest prison in america, the lousiana state penitentiary at angola is now knonw as a place of hope for its more than five thousand inmates. Dennis shere was a reporter, editor, and then publisher. It is excerpted from a fulllength abc news report available thru the books website. Hardly any other warden in the usa has been covered by national and international media as much as the longest serving, controversial, former warden of the louisiana state penitentiary lsp at. An amazing story of warden governor burl cains vision to turn his prison angola prison louisiana from being a warehouse of the incorrigible to being a greenhouse for the spiritually redeemable.
He stepped down from his longtime position at the angola prison effective january 1, 2016. Like most journalists who write about angola, segura is fascinated, perplexed, and a little creepedout by warden burl cain, a man with a gift for baptizing the brutal. Since cain took over angola in 1995, its gone from being the bloodiest prison in america to one of the most revolutionary. Burl cain and the transmississippi god friends of justice. Sep 22, 2014 one of them sits on prison fellowships board of directors. I authored a commentary in october that touched on some of my experiences visiting the inmates and prison staff cain is the longest serving warden in the history of. Hardly any other warden in the usa has been covered by national and international media as much as the longest serving, controversial, former warden of the louisiana state penitentiary lsp at angola, also known as the farm.
Burl cain, storied former angola warden, hired to head mississippi. Though heartbreaking at times, the overall theme of the book is of hope and victory regardless of circumstances. Tate reeves as the new commissioner of the mississippi department of corrections during his daily coronavirus update for. Perhaps no one has fulfilled that role better than burl cain, the legendary former warden of louisianas angola state penitentiary. May 12, 2018 burl cain says he turned around the wild louisiana state penitentiary at angola after he reluctantly became its warden in 1995. Department of corrections seth smith, chief of operations for doc, was charged with overseeing. Known for his innovative approaches in prison management, warden cain holds a degree from the louisiana state university and a masters degree in criminal justice from grambling state university and has more than 30 years. Advocate file photo by steve hardy angola warden burl cain. Capitalizing on his notoriety and success from decades as louisiana state penitentiary at angolas warden, burl cain has started a nonprofit aimed at implementing more seminary colleges in prisons. Aug 18, 2011 like most journalists who write about angola, segura is fascinated, perplexed, and a little creepedout by warden burl cain, a man with a gift for baptizing the brutal. For both hours today, judge tom kohl and warden burl cain talk success in prison reform, how violence was curtailed and inmates transformed in some of americas worst prisons with the introduction.
I saw this book and wanted it because i saw warden cain interviewed on eric. Angola warden burl cain on black pantherism last week, the newsletter of the international coalition to free the angola three published recently transcribed testimony of the october 2008 deposition of burl cain, warden of angola prison, questioned by nick trenticosta, an attorney representing former black panther and angola three member. He wasnt sure what to expect, but even in the three days hed spent at angola, he had learned warden cain was a force to be reckoned with. Known for his innovative approaches in prison management, warden cain holds a degree from the louisiana state university and a masters degree in criminal justice from grambling state university and has more than 30 years experience. A man who sees his role at angola as not merely a job but as a divine appointment to give these inmates a chance at moral rehabilitation and hope through faith in jesus christ. Burl cain formerly served as the warden of louisiana state penitentiary in angola, which is the largest prison in the u. The two men had spoken often about the events soon to unfold, most recently just that day. It comes from the leadership of warden burl cain photo below. Jan 03, 20 cain is the longest serving warden in the history of the penitentiary, a position he has held since 1995. The on fire attitude and leadership of warden burl cain december 3, 20 i recently had the opportunity to study the remarkable leadership of burl cain. He said when the newspaper questioned his religious beliefs, he knew it was time to step down and he informed his. He is the brother of james david cain and alton cain. In 2014, the number decreased to 343, all thanks to cains efforts.
Bp burl cain, a longtime warden who infused faith into what had been called the nations most violent maximum security prison, has been cleared of alleged ethics breaches. Burl cain, a member of prison fellowships board of directors and the longserving warden of angola prison, was recently interviewed by the acton institute for an article appearing on its website. Controversy surrounds angola prison wardens retirement. We think the revival for the country will come from the prison. Only the wardens stand between the wrath of mother earth and the clueless masses of humanity around the world. Angola warden burl cain to resign amid twin probes into. One month after a november 2015 investigative report by the new orleans advocate, louisiana state penitentiary warden burl cain, 73, announced his retirement. The on fire attitude and leadership of warden burl cain. Penitentiary at angolas warden, burl cain has started a nonprofit. What angolas resigning warden is leaving behind for 20 years, burl cain both punished and preached. Cain was reared in pitkin in vernon parish in western louisiana. The warden had explained what would happen when he would arrive to escort the inmate from his holding cell to the death chamber. In god of the rodeo, daniel bergner describes an increasingly contentious relationship between himself and burl cain, warden of angola prison in louisiana.
Warden darrel vannoy replaced warden burl cain, who stepped down in december of 2015. Burl cain, the legendary and controversial former warden of the louisiana state penitentiary at angola who quit in 2015 amid probes into his. Burl cain says he turned around the wild louisiana state penitentiary at angola after he reluctantly became its warden in 1995. We are all in the prison of sin until we are set free by gods son, jesus. Burl cain had done his best to prepare antonio james for death. Dec 09, 2015 burl cain, the legendary and longtenured warden of louisianas storied angola prison, is stepping down effective jan. All of this came into being at the behest of warden burl cain, who is now the. Burl cain was named warden of louisiana state penitentiary lsp in january 1995 by secretary richard stalder. All of this came into being at the behest of warden burl cain, who is now the longeststanding warden in the history of angola prison. Angola warden reinstated after no wrongdoing found after.
His steadfast rejection of a lock em up and throw away the key mentality can bee seen in the progressive, compassionate programs and. What angolas resigning warden is leaving behind the. The transformative power of god is beautifully portrayed in the stories of this prison and its prisoners. The book has as its central character burl cain the prison warden, a man of unshakable faith. With that reply in march 2019, the former warden of louisianas avoyelles correctional center, now known. Former louisiana warden nate cain, son of infamous burl. Once known as the bloodiest prison in america, louisiana state penitentiary or angola as it is commonly called, became one of the safest, most secure, and progressive maximum security prisons in the nation.
Feb 20, 2020 for both hours today, judge tom kohl and warden burl cain talk success in prison reform, how violence was curtailed and inmates transformed in some of americas worst prisons with the introduction. Longtime angola warden burl cain says he will resign effective january 1, 2016. Burl cain responds to a reporters question after being introduced by gov. Gods own warden if you ever find yourself inside louisianas angola prison, burl cain will make sure you find jesusor regret ever crossing his path. I am so thankful for strong leaders like warden cain. The new number might not look like a big success, but considering. Reutter published in prison legal news july, 2019, page 42 filed under. Using tough love and christian insights to spearhead the moral rehabilitation of the offenders he has shown the power jesus to transform not just the inmates but the entire culture of the institution and beyond. Burl cain, the wellknown and embattled former warden of louisiana state penitentiary at angola, is heading east. Cain is a strong believer in the ability of the gospel to turn the most incorrigible of sinners into. Bergner, a freelance journalist, was attracted to angola in 1996 by the prisons rodeo, an annual competition with a 32year history that takes place over the four sundays in october. Nathan burl cain, i born july 2, 1942, is a prison administrator and the former warden at the louisiana state penitentiary at angola in west feliciana parish, north of baton rouge, louisiana. Former louisiana warden nate cain, son of infamous burl cain, pleads guilty loaded on july 2, 2019 by david m. At that time, it was one of the most violent prisons in the united states.
Its about burl cain, warden and louisiana state penitentiary angola. Aug 01, 2005 all of this came into being at the behest of warden burl cain, who is now the longeststanding warden in the history of angola prison. Under his leadership, the inmate population of 5,000 has gone from regular knife fights to bible studies. He was the longeststanding warden in the history of lsp. With that reply in march 2019, the former warden of louisianas avoyelles correctional center, now known as the raymond laborde correctional center, abruptly ended his federal trial on corruption charges. The transformative power of god is beautifully portrayed in the. Angola prison, one of the most brutal prisons in the us.
Dec 15, 2015 when a private firm went to warden burl cain in 1992 with a proposal to build a recycling plant in his prison and use inmate labor to staff it, cain did everything he could to help. May 05, 2015 the book has as its central character burl cain the prison warden, a man of unshakable faith. In 1992, the prison had a record of 1,346 assaults, both inmateoninmate and inmateonstaff. Why is retired angola warden burl cain traveling the world. The servant of hope award goes to someone whose work in correctional environments has had an enduring, restorative impact.
He served there for twentyone years, from january 1995 until his resignation in 2016. When a private firm went to warden burl cain in 1992 with a proposal to build a. Nathan burl cain, i born july 2, 1942, is a prison administrator and the former warden at the louisiana state penitentiary at angola in west feliciana parish. He is the subject of the book cains redemption and has been featured in documentaries and numerous television programs. God raised up burl cain so that the down and out could find jesus. Cain is the most well known prison official in the country. With 6,300 inmates and 1,800 employees and covering 18,000 acres, the louisiana state penitentiary, as it is officially known, is more like a small city. The death house at angola the lethal injection chamber. Apr 09, 2018 burl cain took over as warden in 1995. He has turned what was a horrifying place into a place that is now an example of remarkable positive change. Why is retired angola warden burl cain traveling the world now. The credit for this unprecendented transformation is given to its one of a kind warden, burl cain.
He was an innovative reformer who turned angola from a hellhole into as decent a place as its possible for a maximum security prison to be. Tell me about warden burl cain posted by ronlaflamme on 11917 at 3. Nov 20, 20 on this video, warden burl cain takes barbara walters on a tour of the facility. In this atlantic original documentary, national correspondent jeffrey goldberg goes inside angola to speak with inmates and with warden burl cain, who has managed the prison for two decades. Prisoners meeting for bible studies and worship are a common occurrence at what once was considered the. The testimony, quoted below, reveals a lot about cains view of black panthers and. Warden burl cain has instituted key changes at the louisiana state penitentiary at angola.
Few prison wardens have achieved the notoriety of louisianas burl cain, who is stepping down amidst investigations of his business dealings after 20 years at the top of louisiana state penitentiary, better known as angola, the largest maximumsecurity prison in the most incarcerated state in the country during his tenure, cain was celebrated for reducing violence and rehabilitating. On this video, warden burl cain takes barbara walters on a tour of the facility. Burl cain served as the warden of louisiana state penitentiary, louisianas largest maximumsecurity prison for over 20 years. Burl cain has announced his retirement as warden of the louisiana state penitentiary at angola on jan. Actually, to call angola a prison and cain its warden is a bit off the mark. One of them sits on prison fellowships board of directors.
When a private firm went to warden burl cain in 1992 with a proposal to build a recycling plant in his prison and use inmate labor to staff it, cain did everything he could to help. Cain s regime has also been dogged by controversy over his. Burl cain, storied former angola warden, hired to head. Everyone was there except the person i had come to see. Some of the links in this story reference archived content about burl cain authored by the advocate. Known for his innovative approaches in prison management, warden cain holds a degree from the louisiana state university and a masters degree in criminal justice from grambling state university and has more than 30 years experience in corrections. The mayor of new orleans, mitch landrieu, has made it a practice to visit the louisiana state penitentiary at angola from time to time to consult with a group.
Warden burl cain louisiana state penitentiary photo. Angola warden burl cain to resign amid twin probes into his. Angola for three years under cains leadership and published a book. Burl cain, the legendary and longtenured warden of louisianas storied angola prison, is stepping down effective jan.