'Dead Man Walking' Author Sister Helen Prejean to Speak at U of Redlands

The author of "Dead Man Walking," the nonfiction book that inspired the 1995 film starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn, is scheduled to speak Oct. 3 at the University of Redlands.

Sister Helen Prejean intends to speak in the university's Memorial Chapel about her time as a prison minister and her views of the death penalty system, U of R spokeswoman Patty Zurita said Wednesday.

The event is free and open to the public, Zurita said.

"Sister Helen has committed her life since 1987 to being a Louisiana prison minister," Zurita said. "Inspired by her experiences of dealing with the injustices of the Louisiana death penalty system, Sister Helen wrote her first book, Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States.

"The book chronicled Sister Helen's interactions with a death row inmate within the Louisiana jail system and was number one on the New York Times Best Seller List for 31 weeks."

The Roman Catholic sister has witnessed five executions in Louisiana, Zurita said. Today she shares her views on the death penalty by lecturing, organizing and writing. She is the founder of "Survive," a victim's advocacy group in New Orleans, and she continues to counsel inmates on death row and families of murder victims, Zurita said.

Sister Helen plans to sign books from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and her presentation is expected to last until 8:30 p.m., Zurita said.

The U of R Memorial Chapel, completed in 1927, is the most recognized building on campus, according to the university officials. The street address for the University of Redlands is 1200 E. Colton Ave.

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