 | Susan Sarandon als Sister Helen Prejean |
 | Sean Penn als Matthew Poncelet |
 | Robert Prosky als Hilton Barber |
 | Raymond J. Barry als Earl Delacroix |
 | R. Lee Ermey als Clyde Percy |
 | Celia Weston als Mary Beth Percy |
 | Lois Smith als Helen's Mother |
 | Scott Wilson als Chaplain Farley |
 | Roberta Maxwell als Lucille Poncelet |
 | Margo Martindale als Sister Colleen |
 | Barton Heyman als Captain Beliveau |
 | Steve Boles als Sgt. Neal Trapp |
 | Nesbitt Blaisdell als Warden Hartman |
| Ray Aranha als Luis Montoya |
 | Larry Pine als Guy Gilardi |
| Gil Robbins als Bishop Norwich |
 | Kevin Cooney als Governor Benedict |
 | Clancy Brown als State Trooper |
 | Adele Robbins als Nurse |
 | Michael Cullen als Carl Vitello |
 | Peter Sarsgaard als Walter Delacroix |
 | Missy Yager als Hope Percy |
| Jenny Krochmal als Emily Percy |
 | Jack Black als Craig Poncelet |
 | Jon Abrahams als Sonny Poncelet |
 | Arthur Bridgers als Troy Poncelet |
 | Steve Carlisle als Helen's Brother |
| Helen Hester als Helen's Sister |
 | Eva Amurri Martino als 9-Year-Old Helen |
| Jack Henry Robbins als Opossum Kid #1 |
| Gary "Buddy" Boe als Opossum Kid #2 |
| Amy Long als Opossum Kid #3 |
 | Dennis Neal als Henry |
| Molly Bryant als Nellie |
| Pamela Garmon als Mirabeau |
 | Adrián Colón als Reporter |
| John D. Wilmot als Supporter |
| Margaret Lane als Reporter #1 |
| Sally Ann Roberts als Reporter #2 |
| Alec Gifford als Reporter #3 |
| John Hurlbutt als Reporter #4 |
| Mike Longman als News Anchor |
 | Pete Burris als Parent #1 |
 | Joan Glover als Parent #2 |
| Florrie Hathorn als Parent #3 |
 | Lenore Banks als Parent #4 |
| Idella Cassamier als Idella |
| Marlon Horton als Herbie |
| Kenitra Singleton als Kenitra |
| Palmer Jackson als Palmer |
| Johnathan Thomas als Johnathan |
| Walter Breaux Jr. als Guard #1 |
 | Scott Sowers als Guard #2 |
| Cortez Nance Jr. als Guard #3 |
 | Adam Nelson als Guard #4 |
| Dalvin Ford als Guard #5 |
| Derek Steeley als Guard #6 |
| Jeremy Knaster als Guard #7 |
| Mary Robbins als Aide to Governor Benedict |
 | Miles Robbins als Boy in Church |
| Crystal Williams Brown als Churchgoer (uncredited) |
 | Marcus Lyle Brown als Parole Board Member (uncredited) |
| Joanna Doherty als Nun (uncredited) |
 | Anthony Michael Frederick als Trustee (uncredited) |
| Thomas McGowan als ER Doctor (uncredited) |
| Rawleigh Moreland als Senator (uncredited) |
| Helen Prejean als Woman at Vigil (uncredited) |
| Codie Scott als Cop (uncredited) |
| Tim Robbins | Producer |
| David Robbins | Original Music Composer |
| Eric Fellner | Executive Producer |
| Jon Kilik | Producer |
| Rudd Simmons | Producer |
| Richard Hoover | Production Design |
| Tim Robbins | Director |
| Roger Deakins | Director of Photography |
| Tim Bevan | Executive Producer |
| Patrick Mullins | Music Editor |
| Mark Seldis | Associate Producer |
| Lisa Zeno Churgin | Editor |
| Ray Hubley | Editor |
| R.A. White | Associate Producer |
| Allan F. Nicholls | Associate Producer |
| Douglas Aibel | Casting |
| Aaron F. Quarles | Key Hair Stylist |
| Renee Ehrlich Kalfus | Costume Design |
| Malcolm Ritchie | Thanks |
| Tony Arnaud | Grip |
| Greg Addison | Electrician |
| Clancy Brown | Thanks |
| Graham Stumpf | Post Production Supervisor |
| Allan F. Nicholls | Assistant Director |
| Richie Ford | Rigging Gaffer |
| Tom Warren | Art Direction |
| Peter Gabriel | Thanks |
| Julia Roberts | Thanks |
| Jack Snyder | Thanks |
| Simon Abkarian | Thanks |
| Bruce Springsteen | Thanks |
| Michal Bigger | Makeup Artist |
| Sharon Boyle | Thanks |
| Barry Levine | Thanks |
| Eddie Vedder | Thanks |
| Suzanne Weinert | Thanks |
| Lance Shepherd | Electrician |
| Andy Harris | First Assistant Camera |
| David Stein | Assistant Art Director |
| Chuck Stringer | Carpenter |
| Jerry Everett | Transportation Coordinator |
| David Spinozza | Additional Music |
| Greg Cattano | Security |
| John Dowdell | Telecine Colorist |
| Michael Curry Sr. | Construction Foreman |
| Robin Brown | Camera Operator |
| Ma Kalaadevi Ananda | Makeup Designer |
| Barry Gastelu | Production Intern |
| Kim Marie Druce | Assistant Costume Designer |
| Martin Bernstein | Construction Coordinator |
| Patrick McGuire | Leadman |
| Tim Monich | Dialect Coach |
| Eva Z. Cabrera | Script Supervisor |
| Anthony J. Ciccolini III | Dialogue Editor |
| Patrick K. Coppinger | Painter |
| Lawrence Amanuel | Set Dressing Artist |
| Scott August | Set Production Assistant |
| Scott Dior | Sound Recordist |
| Kayla Chaillot | Craft Service |
| Allison R. Hebble | Post Production Assistant |
| Lucian Baran | Scenic Artist |
| Susie Blanchard | Set Medic |
| Rudd Simmons | Unit Production Manager |
| Michael Kriston | Hairstylist |
| Clare Larson | First Assistant Editor |
| Mitchell Andrew Lillian | Key Grip |
| Brad 'Mo' Gremillion | Chef |
| Gary Chester | Mixing Engineer |
| Tom Salvatore | Color Timer |
| Christie Alexander | Art Department Coordinator |
| Demmie Todd | Still Photographer |
| Pete Aquino | Driver |
| Thomas Wright | Property Master |
| Yvette Nabel | Assistant Sound Editor |
| Bradford L. Hohle | Dolby Consultant |
| Mindy Sheldon | Production Accountant |
| Tod A. Maitland | Sound Mixer |
| T.J. O'Mara | Boom Operator |
| Dan Sable | Supervising Sound Editor |
| David Robbins | Music Supervisor |
| Michele Giordano | Production Coordinator |
| William Moore | Best Boy Electric |
| Morgan Miller | Set Dressing Production Assistant |
| Lynn Sable | Sound Editor |
| Jonathan Graham | Rigging Grip |
| Nancy Kriegel | Production Supervisor |
| David Campbell | Orchestrator |
| Barbara Heller | Location Manager |
| Rashid Chinchanwala | Finance |
| Bill O'Leary | Gaffer |
| Allison Gordin | Assistant Makeup Artist |
| Glen Engels | Construction Grip |
| Sam Hoffman | Second Assistant Director |
| Travis Wright | Assistant Property Master |
| David H. Kramer | ADR Voice Casting |
| Dana A. Hanby | Assistant Location Manager |
| Bonnie Friedman | Production Secretary |
| Kristen M. Johnson | Assistant Editor |
| Ry Cooder | Music Producer |
| Sallie Jones Arata | Assistant Production Coordinator |
| Chris Gilmer | Key Set Production Assistant |
| Sal Camacho | Second Assistant Camera |
| Jordan Beswick | Casting Assistant |
| Alison Miner | Music Consultant |
| Shawna Starkman | Art Department Production Assistant |
| Bonney Langfitt | Additional Wardrobe Assistant |
| Hal Levinsohn | ADR Editor |
| Cynthia Carriere | Location Production Assistant |
| Arne Olsen | Key Construction Grip |
| Gerry Hawkins | Title Designer |
| George A. Lara | Foley Mixer |
| Daniel Pagan | Apprentice Sound Editor |
| Charlie Marroquin | Best Boy Grip |
| Marcus Barben | Assistant Chef |
| Charleen Richards-Steeves | ADR Mixer |
| Jane Frazer | Head of Production |
| Ann C. Salzer | Second Second Assistant Director |
| James Murray | Second Assistant Sound |
| Kris Enos | Camera Trainee |
| Bruce Hamme | Dolly Grip |
| Hartsell Taylor | Wardrobe Supervisor |
| Lys Hopper | Location Coordinator |
| Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan | Thanks |
| Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan | Playback Singer |
| Helen Prejean | Book |
| Tim Robbins | Writer |
