Justice 101
Tuesday, October 13, 2026 to Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Justice 101 is 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.
Powered by the Eastern State Center for Justice Education. Guests can join live or watch the programs back anytime on our website or YouTube channel. Visit EasternState.org/Justice101 to learn more.
Topics for the 2026-2027 series of Justice 101 include:
- October 13 – Religious Freedom and the Justice System
- November 24 – From Natural Rights to “Slave of the State”- Philadelphia’s Founding Vision and the Making of the “Slave of the State”
- December 3 – Examining the Justice System and the Unfinished work of the Founding and the Prisoners’ Rights Revolution
- December 9 – Faith, Sanctuary, and Community
Past events in the 2026-2027 series of Justice 101 included:
- September 8 – Redefining Rehabilitation — From Norway to Pennsylvania
- September 15 – Voices Beyond the Walls — Justice, Reentry, and Civic Power
- September 17 – The History of American Incarceration
Be sure to sign up for our Justice 101 newsletter to receive updates straight to your inbox.
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.
Upcoming Events in this Series
Justice 101: Religious Freedom and the Justice System
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
5:30pm - 7:30pm
Explore the complex legal story of religious freedom and the justice system, and unpack how it continues to unfold in courtrooms, prisons, and jails across the country today. Delve into notable rulings that protected the rights of incarcerated people to practice their faiths behind bars. Speakers include Michael Moreland, J.D., Ph.D. (Professor of Law and Religion & Director of the Eleanor H. McCullen Center for Law, Villanova University), and Marci A. Hamilton, J.D. (Professor of Practice in Political Science & Fox Family Pavilion Non-Resident Fellow in the Program for Research of Religion, University of Pennsylvania).
Justice 101: From Natural Rights to “Slave of the State”- Philadelphia’s Founding Vision and the Making of the “Slave of the State”
Tuesday, November 24, 2026
5:30pm - 7:30pm
Details to come, check back for updates.
Justice 101: Examining the Justice System and the Unfinished work of the Founding and the Prisoners’ Rights Revolution
Thursday, December 03, 2026
2:00pm - 3:00pm
Join us as we explore how incarcerated people and their allies challenged the idea that prisoners lose their rights, sparking a movement that reshaped American law and raised enduring questions about whether the nation's promise of inherent human dignity and freedom has ever been fully realized.
Justice 101: Faith, Sanctuary, and Community
Wednesday, December 09, 2026
5:30pm - 6:30pm
In sites of incarceration, faith is often more than a personal belief, it a bridge. It builds community, fosters found families, and creates shared warmth in spaces of isolation.
Join us for an evening that opens with a panel discussion and features live musical performances exploring how religious connection sustains people through incarceration. In the spirit of Hanukkah, a celebration of perseverance, light, and community, we will gather to honor the spiritual bonds that bring people together behind bars and celebrate Eastern State’s historic synagogue as an enduring space of memory, unity, and hope.
Justice 101: Religious Freedom and the Justice System
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Explore the complex legal story of religious freedom and the justice system, and unpack how it continues to unfold in courtrooms, prisons, and jails across the country today. Delve into notable rulings that protected the rights of incarcerated people to practice their faiths behind bars. Speakers include Michael Moreland, J.D., Ph.D. (Professor of Law and Religion & Director of the Eleanor H. McCullen Center for Law, Villanova University), and Marci A. Hamilton, J.D. (Professor of Practice in Political Science & Fox Family Pavilion Non-Resident Fellow in the Program for Research of Religion, University of Pennsylvania).
Justice 101: From Natural Rights to “Slave of the State”- Philadelphia’s Founding Vision and the Making of the “Slave of the State”
Tuesday, November 24, 2026
Details to come, check back for updates.
Justice 101: Examining the Justice System and the Unfinished work of the Founding and the Prisoners’ Rights Revolution
Thursday, December 03, 2026
Join us as we explore how incarcerated people and their allies challenged the idea that prisoners lose their rights, sparking a movement that reshaped American law and raised enduring questions about whether the nation's promise of inherent human dignity and freedom has ever been fully realized.
Justice 101: Faith, Sanctuary, and Community
Wednesday, December 09, 2026
In sites of incarceration, faith is often more than a personal belief, it a bridge. It builds community, fosters found families, and creates shared warmth in spaces of isolation.
Join us for an evening that opens with a panel discussion and features live musical performances exploring how religious connection sustains people through incarceration. In the spirit of Hanukkah, a celebration of perseverance, light, and community, we will gather to honor the spiritual bonds that bring people together behind bars and celebrate Eastern State’s historic synagogue as an enduring space of memory, unity, and hope.
