| N. Burl Cain | |
|---|---|
Warden Burl Cain from Blake Nelson Boyd's "Louisiana Cereal." |
|
| Known for | Warden of Angola Prison |
| Religion | Christianity |
N. Burl Cain was named Warden of Louisiana State Penitentiary (LSP) in January 1995 by Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections Secretary Richard Stalder. He is the brother of James David Cain and Alton Cain. Known for his approaches in prison management, Warden Cain holds a degree from Louisiana State University and a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Grambling State University and has more than 30 years experience in corrections.[1]
LSP is the largest prison in the United States and many of the inmates will never be released. He is a religious man and believes the only way to give his inmates hope is in the form of eternal life, and to this end encourages a spiritual atmosphere in the prison.[2]
He is the longest-standing warden in the history of LSP. Under his leadership, the inmate population of 5,000 has seen a decrease in violent incidents. The changes he brought about at the prison are the subject of the 2005 book Cain's Redemption by Dennis Shere.
Previously Cain was the warden of the Dixon Correctional Institute. After accepting the job at Angola, he continued to live on the grounds of Dixon. By 1997 Cain, now warden of Angola, continued to live at Dixon.[3]
In 2010 Cain was one of the speakers in Calvin College's January series.[4]
Cain promotes a Christian-based message and his belief that religion can turn the lives of inmates. Other states used Cain's strategy as a model. In August 2005, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit accusing Warden Cain and the Louisiana state prison system of hindering a Mormon inmate's access to religious texts.[5]