Justice 101: Redefining Rehabilitation — From Norway to Pennsylvania
Tuesday, September 08, 2026
5:30 - 7:30pm EST
Join us for a conversation exploring Norway’s "normality principle," a groundbreaking approach to incarceration that prioritizes humanity and rehabilitation, and learn about ongoing efforts to replicate the model and research its impact through the Scandinavian Prison Project or “Little Scandinavia” at SCI-Chester, a state correctional institution near Philadelphia.
Our panel will discuss how dignified institutional design transforms staff relationships and dedicated post-release support can transform corrections and redefine justice. Speakers include Michael Zaken, DCJ (Western Region Deputy Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections), Morgen Jaco (Deputy Commissioner of Restorative and Transitional Services, Philadelphia Department of Prisons), Stian Estenstad (Director, Network After Imprisonment—Norwegian Red Cross), Steven L. Chanenson, JD (Professor of Law & Faculty Director of the Girard-diCarlo Center, Villanova University), and Amir Bowman (Criminal Justice Reform Advocate & Former Resident of “Little Scandinavia”).
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 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.
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.
