Helen Prejean

Helen Prejean, C.S.J., was born and raised in Baton Rouge and has lived in Louisiana all her life. A member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Medaille, she has long been involved in community work among the poor. Her contact with a man on death row in Louisiana's Angola State Prison led her to become both an outspoken activist against capital punishment and an advocate for murder victims' families. Prejean is the author of Dead Man Walking, which was made into a motion picture by Tim Robbins, and in which she was portrayed by actress Susan Sarandon. In 1998 Prejean was awarded the Pacem in Terris Award, which in Latin means "peace on earth."

Resources for Teachers and Students

Reflections on Working Towards Peace