-- The virtual educational program on March 18 features guest speakers Jen Manion and Michelle Daniel-Jones. --
March 4, 2024
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site (ESPHS) invites learners of all ages to join the third program of its new virtual educational series Justice 101. The free event commemorates Women’s History Month, focusing on women’s rights in prison and taking place on Zoom at 11:00 a.m. E.T. on Monday, March 18, 2024.
The program, titled Women Behind Bars: Why is Incarceration of Women on the Rise?, sheds light on the rapid increase of female imprisonment in the United States, which is surpassing global rates. This exploration spans from the historical context of women in prison to the present-day complexities of incarcerated motherhood. Attendees will discover and discuss the unique challenges faced by women of reproductive age as they navigate pregnancy and motherhood within correctional facilities primarily designed for men. Hosted by Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site’s President & CEO Dr. Kerry Sautner, the discussion also features scholars Jen Manion and Michelle Daniel Jones.
"The female incarceration rate in the United States is growing at an alarming pace. With this rise comes an urgent need to address the unique challenges that women face within the prison system, including restricted access to adequate reproductive healthcare and other systemic barriers,” says Dr. Kerry Sautner, President & CEO of Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site. “This Women’s History Month, we will illuminate the experiences of incarcerated women throughout Eastern State’s history and in prisons and jails across our country today, and we will examine the root causes of these disturbing trends. We're honored to welcome our special guests who will share their expertise and insights on these vital topics."
Justice 101: Women Behind Bars: Why is Incarceration of Women on the Rise? takes place Monday, March 18, at 11:00 a.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:
- Jen Manion (they/them) is a social and cultural historian whose work examines the role of gender and sexuality in American life. Manion is the Winkley Professor of History and Political Economy at Amherst College. They are also author of Liberty’s Prisoners: Carceral Culture in Early America and Female Husbands: A Trans History. To learn more about Jen, visit their website.
- Michelle Daniel Jones (she/her) is a sixth-year doctoral student in the American studies program at New York University. Her dissertation focuses on creative liberation strategies of incarcerated women and the Alabama Prison Arts and Education Project. As an organizer, collaborator, and subject matter expert she creates opportunities to speak truth to power and serves in the development and operation of taskforces and initiatives to reduce harm and end mass incarceration. To learn more about Michelle, visit her website.
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:
- March 18, 11:00 am ET - Women Behind Bars: Why is Incarceration of Women on the Rise?
- 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:
- September 2023 - The 8th Amendment: Cruel and Unusual Punishment
- January 2024 - Conversation on Civil Rights Movements within Prisons
- February 2024 - Does the First Amendment Apply in 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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#Justice101 from @EasternState Penitentiary continues on March 18 at 11 am ET with a conversation about women’s rights in prisons, ft. special guests Jen Manion and Michelle Daniel-Jones. Learn more and register: https://www.easternstate.org/visit/events/justice-101-women-behind-bars-navigating-mass-incarceration
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