Justice 101

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 inclue:

• 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
• October 6 – Erasure of Queer History
• 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 – Faith, Sanctuary, and Community
• December 9 – Examining the Justice System and the Unfinished work of the Founding and the Prisoners’ Rights Revolution

Events in the 2025-26 series of Justice 101 included:

• September 17 – Freedom Behind Bars: The First Amendment and Incarceration in America
• November 19 – Restorative Justice: A Closer Look at Alternatives
• December 3 – State of the Union: Excessive Punishment The 8th Amendment and the Justice System
• December 10 – Bill of Rights: Trial Amendments and the Rights of the Accused
• December 18 – Songs of Redemption: Stories, Music, and the Struggle for Justice
• January 14 – The Civil Rights Movement: Finding Justice and Calling on the Declaration of Independence
• February 18 – Reconstruction and the Origins of Modern Incarceration
• March 11 – The Business of Second Chances: Economic Empowerment for Justice-Involved Women
• April 16 – Justice 101: From Rosa Parks to Joan Little: A screening and conversation about Civil Rights and Criminal Justice Education
• April 23 – Prison Gerrymandering
• May 13 – Justice 101: The History of Solitary Confinement
• May 21 – Philly Saves: Adaptive Reuse of Sites of Memory and Trauma
• May 27 – Faith, Reentry, and Prison Reform
• June 19 – Justice 101: The History and Meaning of Juneteenth Today
• July 2 – Justice 101: The Legacy of America: Dissent and the Justice System

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.