State of the Union: Excessive Punishment The 8th Amendment and the Justice System

What does it mean for a punishment to be cruel and unusual? How has the interpretation of the Eighth Amendment shaped American justice over time and where is its legal interpretation today? Join the Eastern State Center for Justice Education as we explore the history, purpose, and evolving meaning of the Eighth Amendment.

This timely conversation with panelists Lauren-Brooke Eisen, Senior Director of the Brennan Center’s Justice Program, and Kermit Roosevelt III, Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, will uncover how societal “standards of decency” have shifted, spotlight key Supreme Court decisions, and examine urgent questions about mass incarceration and criminal justice reform. Moderated by Dr. Kerry Sautner, President and CEO of Eastern State Penitentiary, the discussion will feature leading voices in law, history, and advocacy. Together, they will examine the definition of excessive punishment and our individual and collective role in building a justice system rooted in fairness and human dignity.