Burl Cain
Louisiana State Penitentiary
Angola, LA USA
"To be great among your peers, you must serve. That’s what a leader is."
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Burl's work combines: Law, Government, and Working with Others
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Teaching was actually great preparation for this role. I believe that if you're a good teacher, you can be a good warden. My job is to lead, guide, and uphold order—all things that a teaching background prepares you for.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Agriculture, General
Louisiana State University
Graduate Degree
Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration
Grambling State University
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
I went to Louisiana State University and studied agriculture—I wanted to become a vocational teacher for the National FFA Organization.
2.
After graduating, I taught for a few months, but quickly realized that I did not enjoy it.
3.
Having started my career with the American Farm Bureau Federation, I was appointed as the assistant secretary of agribusiness for the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
4.
I was then appointed as the warden of the Dixon Correctional Institute in Jackson, Louisiana.
5.
I spent 14 years as warden of the DCI before accepting the position as warden of the Louisiana State Penitentiary.
6.
A year after becoming warden, I invited the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary to set up a Bible college at the prison to help the inmates gain higher education, and find morality and peace.
7.
When I started as warden, the Louisiana State Penitentiary was known as one of the most violent prisons in the U.S.—but the violence has decreased significantly over my tenure as warden.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Peers:
You've never worked in a prison before, so you can't be a good warden. You don't know how to do it.
How I responded:
When I was appointed as warden, the naysayers doubted my abilities because I had never worked in a prison before. They didn't think I could do it. The governor at the time told me he'd grant me the job but he couldn't help me keep it. I accepted because I knew I could prove my worth. All I needed was the chance to prove that I could do the job and do it well.