Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site Convenes Expert Panel for Discussion on First Amendment Rights in Prisons
February 16, 2024
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site (ESPHS) invites learners of all ages to join its next monthly installment of the new Justice 101 program, taking place on Zoom on Thursday, February 22 at 2:00 p.m. ET. Attendees will embark on a thought-provoking exploration of the functions and limitations of First Amendment rights within prisons and jails.
The February 22 program, titled Justice 101: Does the First Amendment Apply in Prisons?, explores the intersection of prison journalism and First Amendment rights. The session delves into the limits of freedom of speech within the prison system, using examples such as social media posts that implicate individuals, using social media as evidence in court, and instances of prisons censoring media produced by incarcerated people. The discussion also touches upon issues like phone and book bans in prison and the controversial scanned mail service in Pennsylvania.
Hosted by Eastern State's Senior Specialist of Research and Public Programming Damon McCool and featuring special guests Jesse Vasquez and Evan Bianchi, the program provides insights into the challenges and complexities of exercising First Amendment rights within the unique context of the prison environment.
"This program delves into a crucial, often unexplored aspect of incarceration," says Damon McCool, Senior Specialist of Research and Public Programming at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site. "By examining the limitations placed on expression and communication, we gain a deeper understanding of the impact that reduced freedoms have on individuals living within correctional facilities."
Justice 101: Does the First Amendment Apply in Prisons? takes place Thursday, February 22, 2:00 p.m. ET on Zoom. The program is free and open to all. For more information and to register, visit EasternState.org/Justice101.
About the Speakers:
- Jesse Vasquez serves as Executive Director for the Pollen Initiative, a nonprofit organization advancing transformational, incarcerated-run multimedia programs. He was incarcerated as a juvenile and spent almost 19 years in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation until former Governor Jerry Brown commuted his sentence. Since his release in 2019, he has volunteered in various high schools to help teens understand their options and opportunities in spite of their environmental surroundings.
- Evan Bianchi is an attorney at Wiggin and Dana LLP in New York City. As a member of the firm’s Appellate Practice Group, he has briefed appeals in federal and state courts across the country, including in matters involving the First Amendment, criminal sentencing, and the rights of incarcerated persons. Evan previously worked at Selendy & Gay PLLC, where he litigated a wide variety of appellate and trial matters. He has published scholarship on the application of the First Amendment in prisons.
- Damon McCool is the Senior Specialist of Research and Public Programming at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, a museum interpreting the legacy of American criminal justice reform from the site of the world’s first penitentiary.
About Justice 101:
Justice 101 is a new series by the Center for Justice Education at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site. Each virtual program examines the history of the justice system in America, from its founding to today, and the impact it has on society, citizens, and the world. Once a month, Eastern State staff invite special guests to foster dialogue about a different topic in criminal justice. Justice 101 programs are free, take place virtually via Zoom, and last 45 minutes: a 30-minute program followed by a 15-minute Q&A. Guests can tune in live, or watch the programs back anytime on YouTube.
Upcoming Justice 101 Programs:
- February 22, 2:00 pm ET - Does the First Amendment Apply in Prisons?
- March 18, 11:00 am ET - Women Behind Bars: Navigating Mass Incarceration
- April 17, 6:30 pm ET - Exploring the 13th Amendment and the Persistence of Forced Labor in Prisons
- May 13, 1:00 pm ET - Policing in America: Navigating the 4th Amendment, Stop and Frisk, and Civil Rights
Previous Justice 101 Program:
- January 19, 12:00 pm ET - Conversation on Civil Rights Movements within Prisons
Justice 101 is designed for learners of all ages. For more information, visit EasternState.org/Justice101.
About Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site:
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site interprets the legacy of American criminal justice reform, from the nation’s founding through to the present day, within the long-abandoned cellblocks of the nation’s most historic prison.
Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but stands today in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers. Known for its grand architecture and strict discipline, this was the world's first true "penitentiary," a prison designed to inspire penitence, or true regret, in the hearts of prisoners. Its vaulted, sky-lit cells held approximately 85,000 people during its 142 years of operation, including bank robber "Slick Willie" Sutton and “Scarface” Al Capone.
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site is open for tours year-round. Admission includes “The Voices of Eastern State" Audio Tour, narrated by actor Steve Buscemi; award-winning exhibits; and a critically acclaimed series of artist installations.
In recent years, Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site has been awarded the prestigious Excellence in Exhibitions award by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the nation’s highest award in exhibition development and design, for its exhibit Prisons Today: Questions in the Age of Mass Incarceration, as well as the Institutional Award for Special Achievement from the Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and the Trustee Emeritus Award for Stewardship from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The LEAD Fellowship, formerly called The Returning Citizens Tour Guide Project, has won the EdCom Award for Innovation in Museum Education by the American Alliance of Museums.
For more information, visit EasternState.org and follow Eastern State Penitentiary on Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, and Tik Tok.
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Does the First Amendment apply in prison? Learn more at @EasternState’s next #Justice101 program, taking place 2/22 at 2pm via Zoom. The #free #JusticeEd program is hosted by ESP’s Damon McCool and features guests Jesse Vasquez & Evan Bianchi. Register at EasternState.org/Justice101
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