Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ, is a Roman Catholic nun and a leading advocate for the abolition of the death penalty. Her first book, "Dead Man Walking," chronicles her experiences as a spiritual advisor to death row inmates, including Elmo Patrick Sonnier and Robert Lee Willie. The book inspired an Academy Award-winning film, a play, and a widely performed opera. Her second book, "The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions," examines cases she believes involved innocent individuals executed unjustly.
Prejean's work began in 1981 when she corresponded with Sonnier, a convicted murderer facing execution. Witnessing his death profoundly impacted her, leading her to found Survive, an organization supporting victims' families, and later Moratorium 2000, a campaign advocating for a halt to executions. Her writing blends personal narrative with rigorous examination of capital punishment's ethical and legal implications. She has served as National Chairperson of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty and continues to speak globally on social justice issues.
Prejean's most recent book, "River of Fire: On Becoming an Activist," was published in 2019. She remains actively engaged in advocacy, currently working on a new book about Manuel Ortiz, an inmate she has visited for three decades. A recipient of the Pacem in Terris Award, Prejean upholds the Consistent Life Ethic, opposing abortion, euthanasia, and the death penalty. Based in New Orleans, she dedicates her life to educating the public and influencing policy through her writing and activism.