Justice 101: Prison Gerrymandering

Join us for a conversation on prison gerrymandering, a practice that distorts our democratic process and dilutes the political power of communities across the nation. In this discussion, we'll examine how the current method of counting incarcerated people for representational purposes, often in rural, non-resident districts, allows for the manipulation of political power.

We'll be joined by: Rory Kramer, Ph.D. (Associate Professor of Sociology, Villanova University), Carol Kuniholm, Ph.D. (Co-Founder and Chair, Fair Districts PA), Andrew McGinley, J.D. (Vice President of External Affairs, Committee of Seventy), and Brianna Remster, Ph.D. (Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminology, Villanova University). Together, we will explore the history and mechanics of prison gerrymandering, highlighting how it essentially exports the population, and thus the political influence, of urban and largely minority communities to boost the political power of the primarily white, rural areas where prisons are located. Moderated by Kerry Sautner, Ed.D. (President and CEO, Eastern State), this conversation will feature leading voices in electoral justice and carceral reform. Together, they will unpack the true state of representative democracy when a population's physical location misrepresents the people.

Session is for learners of all ages, recommended middle school and above.

This program is part of A Time for Liberty: Our Shared History, Our Shared Future, a yearlong slate of free, inclusive programs exploring the evolving meanings of liberty and justice in America. A Time for Liberty is made possible with support from civic and cultural partners including the City of Philadelphia, America250PA, Campus250, the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial, the Philadelphia City Fund’s 2026 Milestone Grant Fund, supported by PECO, the National Trust Preservation Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program series, do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.