Sister Helen Prejean, now 87, remains deeply active in the fight against the death penalty, expanding her reach with a graphic-novel adaptation of Dead Man Walking to engage younger readers and launching a new book on Manuel Ortiz, a death-row inmate in Louisiana.

She acknowledges past missteps in handling victims’ families and emphasizes a dual duty to support them alongside death-row inmates, underscoring the complexity of her advocacy.

Public opinion on capital punishment is shifting, with Gallup showing a slim majority in favor (about 52%), while the Catholic Church grows increasingly opposed, and Louisiana recently executed Jessie Dean Hoffman Jr. in 2025, highlighting the ongoing national debate.

Her latest project, Cry Justice: The Ordeal of Manuel Ortiz and the Louisiana Justice System, focuses on Ortiz’s case from Kenner, aiming to raise questions about innocence and the state’s execution practices.

Prejean operates from a modest New Orleans apartment-office, balancing speaking engagements, online events, and manuscript work with Random House, aiming for a December submission.

Her motivation stems from personal conviction and faith, recalling Louisiana upbringing and experiences with Death Row inmates Sonnier and Willie, and her commitment to upholding human dignity while pursuing abolition of the death penalty.

The six-year graphic novel project was scripted by Rose Vines and illustrated by Catherine Anyango Grünewald, incorporating updated context on capital punishment and featuring recurring animal characters that offer commentary.