The Louisiana Department of Corrections announced who will be the new warden at the Angola prison. Dixon Correctional Institute’s Warden Darrel Vannoy is looking to fill the spot. After nearly 21 years serving as the warden of one of the country’s largest maximum security prisons, Burl Cain has decided to step down.
“Well I feel sad, and I feel happy. I just met with the inmates, and they cried and I cried too then, but that kind of messed me up a little bit,” Cain said. “Other than that, I feel real good about it.”
Cain has faced a lot of controversy throughout the years, and recently regarding an investigation into his side expenses by the state, but Cain said that is not why he is leaving.
“I didn’t resign because of controversy, that’s not why I resigned. I resigned because when the editorial started talking about my age and if I was serious about religion, and I am really serious about religion and my religion, it was time to go,” Cain explained.
In his time at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, or Angola for short, Cain said his most notable accomplishment is helping to reform thousands of inmates.
“My legacy is what’s in the hearts of the inmates here in this prison,” Cain said. “That will never go away.”
Cindy Mann agreed, Warden Cain did accomplish that. Mann is the executive director of the Louisiana Prison Chapel Foundation, which builds chapels in prisons.
“When you transform someone’s heart, you’re releasing them to be a person, a better person, instead of just a better criminal,” Mann said. “He tells the story that we’re passionate about better than anyone, and he shows it. When people come out to Angola, they can see what he believes in and what we believe in.”
Cain’s retirement is effective January 1st. Cain set at this point, he has lots of options, but has
“no clue” what he’ll do next.