Justice 101: Dying on the Inside—The History of America’s Incarceration of Women
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
5:30 - 7:30pm EST
- 5:30 pm: Reception
- 6:00 - 7:30 pm: Program
Join us for a discussion about the intersection of incarceration, aging, and health as explored in the new investigative podcast series Dying on the Inside: Women Lifers at Muncy Prison. Dying on the Inside highlights the realities of roughly 150 women serving life sentences at Pennsylvania’s State Correctional Institution at Muncy. Through the voices of incarcerated women and those working to change the system, the series explores the human, financial, and moral stakes of aging and dying in prison.
Cherri Gregg (Co-Executive Producer & Host, Dying on the Inside; Co-Host, WHYY Studio 2) will lead a conversation that asks the question—how did we get here? Together with Kerry Sautner, Ed.D. (President & CEO, Eastern State), Keisha Hudson, Esq. (Chief Defender, Defender Association of Philadelphia), Tonie Willis (Founder & Executive Director, Ardella’s House), and other panelists, we’ll draw connections between the history of women’s incarceration in America and the present-day realities of aging, illness, and long-term imprisonment. This discussion is not just a continuation of the podcast—it’s a step back to understand the systems, policies, and decisions that shaped this moment.
Through history, lived experience, and legal insight, we’ll explore:
- How women became one of the fastest-growing incarcerated populations
- Why prisons were never designed for women—especially those growing old inside
- What happens when punishment outlasts rehabilitation
- And what justice should look like now
Dying on the Inside: Women Lifers at Muncy Prison is a production of Create. Genius. Media and Temple University's Logan Center for Urban Investigative Reporting. Follow @dyingontheinsidepodcast on social media for info about events, issues around mass incarceration and history.
About the Panelists:
We strive to make the penitentiary and our site, programs, and exhibits accessible to all visitors. Click here to learn more about accessibility and accommodations at ESPHS.
This program is part of Justice 101, a discussion series that dives into some of the most pressing issues in criminal justice today, through a historical lens and with a focus on civic education. Each program includes interactive elements, expert voices, and opportunities for community dialogue.
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.
