‘Justice 101’ tackles issues of excessive punishment and mass incarceration

Have we, as a nation, truly established justice?

That is one of the questions that scholars and activists will address during Justice 101, a monthly discussion series examining the history of the justice system in America. The hybrid event takes place in person at The Free Library of Philadelphia’s Parkway Central Library auditorium and online via Zoom, on Tuesday, Sept. 17, and is free and open to the public.

Presented by Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, in partnership with the Free Library of Philadelphia, the Brennan Center for Justice, and the Mayor’s Office of Black Male Engagement, Justice 101 features a panel of scholars, practitioners, activists, and leaders who will explore the concept of establishing justice and critically examine the role of excessive punishment in the criminal justice system.

“As we embark on our nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations, it is crucial to reflect on a fundamental question: Have we truly established justice? In an era marked by mass incarceration, that’s unclear,” said Dr. Kerry Sautner, President and CEO of Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site. “Moreover, how we can effect meaningful change toward a criminal legal system that is smaller, more effective, and more humane? I look forward to unpacking these critical questions with our expert panel and exploring with them some potential pathways for improvement.”

According to The Sentencing Project, the United States has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world, with nearly 2 million people in prisons and jails. This expansive system disproportionately affects marginalized communities, administering punishment on an outsized scale without achieving public safety, but rather perpetuating inequality and recidivism.

The discussion will feature Lauren-Brooke Eisen and Kathy Foer-Morse, two of the contributors to ‘Excessive Punishment: How the Justice System Creates Mass Incarceration’; Wadud Ahmad, President of Ahmad Zaffarese; and Michael Resnick, Commissioner of the Philadelphia Department of Prisons.

Moderated by Dr. Kerry Sautner, President and CEO of Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, with remarks by Kelly Richards, President and Director of the Free Library of Philadelphia, and Abu Edwards, Director of Black Male Engagement for the City of Philadelphia.

Justice 101: Establishing Justice: Excessive Punishment and Mass Incarceration takes place Tuesday, Sept. 17 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. This event is free; reservations are required for both in-person and remote attendees. For more information and to register, visit EasternState.org.