Program Overview

Alternatives to the Prison System Colloquium

The Alternatives to the Prison System Colloquium will focus on the theory and implementation of ways to shrink or eliminate the vast footprint of the American penal system. Its focus will be on achieving major reduction or elimination of incarceration and related state deprivations of liberty, leaving to other courses the important but distinct initiatives that seek to improve conditions within prisons; defund/abolish the police; and/or substantially reduce police presence on the street.

Spring 2024 Schedule of Presenters

The following speakers are scheduled to present at the colloquium:

• Jamelia Morgan, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, on Thursday, January 25, 2024, 3:20 PM – 5:20 p.m., at Furman Hall Room 310
• Dorothy Roberts, University of Pennsylvania Carey School of Law, on Thursday, February 1, 2024, 3:20 PM – 5:20 p.m., at Furman Hall Room 310
• Alexandra Natapoff, Harvard Law School, on Thursday, February 8, 2024, 3:20 PM – 5:20 p.m., at Furman Hall Room 310
• Adriaan Lanni, Harvard Law School, on Thursday, February 15, 2024, 3:20 PM – 5:20 p.m., at Furman Hall Room 310
• Tess Cohen, Criminal Justice Operations Committee, NY City Bar Ass'n, on Thursday, February 22, 2024, 3:20 PM – 5:20 p.m., at Furman Hall Room 310
• Dana Bazelon, Director of Policy, Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, on Thursday, February 29, 2024, 3:20 PM – 5:20 p.m., at Furman Hall Room 310
• Leigh Goodmark, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, on Thursday, March 7, 2024, 3:20 PM – 5:20 p.m., at Furman Hall Room 310
• Nazgol Ghandnoosh, Co-Director of Research, The Sentencing Project, on Thursday, March 14, 2024, 3:20 PM – 5:20 p.m., at Furman Hall Room 310
• Fiona Doherty, Yale Law School, on Thursday, March 28, 2024, 3:20 PM – 5:20 p.m., at Furman Hall Room 310
• Jessica Eaglin, Cornell Law School, on Thursday, April 4, 2024, 3:20 PM – 5:20 p.m., at Furman Hall Room 310
• Ruth O'Sullivan, Project/Clinical Director- Brooklyn Mental Health Court, on Thursday, April 11, 2024, 3:20 PM – 5:20 p.m., at Furman Hall Room 310
• Richard Mendel, Senior Research Fellow, The Sentencing Project, on Thursday, April 18, 2024, 3:20 PM – 5:20 p.m., at Furman Hall Room 310

Colloquium Details

The colloquium is led by Stephen J. Schulhofer, Robert B. McKay Professor of Law Emeritus. It is part of the broader range of colloquia offered, which include:

• Art Law
• Constitutional Theory
• Culture and Law
• Environmental & Energy Law
• Global and Comparative Public Law Colloquium
• Globalization, International Law and East Asia Law
• Innovation Policy
• Legal History
• Legal, Political, and Social Philosophy
• Tax Policy and Public Finance
• Past Colloquia