MS SC507

Dr. Donald A. Cabana, former Warden and Superintendent of the Mississippi State Penitentiary, passed away on October 7, 2013, at age 67.

Served over 40 years in corrections across Massachusetts, Florida, Missouri, and Mississippi, including as Superintendent of Mississippi State Penitentiary starting in 1984 and South Mississippi Correctional Institution from 1989 to 1991.

Left corrections work in the early 1990s due to opposition to capital punishment and became a Professor and Chair of Criminal Justice at the University of Southern Mississippi, teaching for 10 years and later founding the Criminal Justice Program at William Carey University.

Advocated publicly against the death penalty as an ineffectual deterrent, expensive burden on taxpayers, and inhumane punishment for both those executed and those carrying out executions.

Resolution extends condolences to his surviving family including his wife of 47 years, six grandchildren, three sons, and three daughters.