Justice 101: Prison Gerrymandering
Thursday, March 05, 2026
All Day
Date and details to be confirmed—please check back for updates.
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 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, 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.
About the Panelists:
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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 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.