2012-13 Social Science Colloquium:
Mass Incarceration in the United States

The U.S. has the largest number of prisoners, and the highest rate of incarceration, of any country in the world. This colloquium will explore the social, political, and economic consequences of mass incarceration in American society.

The speakers are:

• Sept. 13, 2012
  7 p.m. in the ELC Forum.
  Keynote speaker, Michelle Alexander, Associate Professor of Law, The Ohio State University
  This lecture is funded by the Spielman Memorial Lectureship. Professor Alexander will discuss her ground-breaking book, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. Professor Alexander will be available to sign copies of her book immediately after the talk (copies for purchase will be made available).
• Oct. 25, 2012
  7 p.m. in the Community Room of the Barnes & Noble Bookstore at Bucknell University
  Leslie Patrick, Associate Professor of History, Bucknell University will moderate a panel discussing: "United States Penitentiary Lewisburg: A Contested Space?" Panelists include Jeff Thomas, Warden of the Federal Penitentiary; Dave Sprout, Paralegal with the Lewisburg Prison Project; Glenn Crook, former chaplain at USP Allenwood FCC; Karen Morin, Geography Professor Bucknell University; Dave Bartlett, President of AFGE Local 148, the American Federation of Government Employees.
• Nov. 7, 2012
  12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in ELC 217
  Dr. Christopher Wildeman, Yale University, Department of Sociology
  He will discuss his working paper titled "The Hedonic Consequences of Punishment Revisited" at a faculty workshop and lunch.
• Nov. 7, 2012
  7:30 p.m. in the ELC Forum
  Dr. Christopher Wildeman, Yale University, Department of Sociology
  Professor Wildeman is giving a talk entitled "Children of the Prison Boom: Mass Incarceration and the Future of Inequality"
• Nov. 15, 2012
  7 p.m. in the ELC Forum
  Reverend Walt Everett and Mr. Mike Carlucci
  In 1987, Mike, while high on drugs, shot and killed Walt's 24-year old son. After a year of anger mixed with depression, Walt heard Mike express remorse, and thus began a journey of forgiveness and renewal for both men. Come hear their inspiring story.
• Feb. 13, 2013
  7 p.m. in the ELC Forum
  Dr. Heather Ann Thompson, Temple University Department of History
  Professor Thompson will give a talk titled "Lock Up America:Why Mass Incarceration Matters to our Cities, our Economy, and our Democracy".
• February 14, 2013
  Noon in the ELC 241A-C
  Professor Thompson will discuss her working paper titled "From Researching the Past to Reimagining the Future: Locating Carceral Crisis, and the Key to its End, in the Long 20th Century."
• March 21, 2013
  4-6 p.m.
  People, Policies & Prisons: Experiences with Incarceration in PA
  This event features a panel discussion of the policy-based social and economic factors that contribute to criminal behavior and sentencing, and also shape the experiences of incarceration and re-entry into society. The panel features:
  
  John Wetzel, Secretary of the PA Department of Corrections, founding member of St. Seraphim Homeless Shelter, core team member of Brother 2 Brother mentoring initiative, formerly a correctional officer and treatment counselor
  
  Ann Schwartzman, Policy Director at the Pennsylvania Prison Society, with more than 20 years of experience in the field of criminal justice program management, training and facilitation, and advocacy and public policy
  
  Tyrone Werts, Consultant at both the Philadelphia Public Defenders Association and Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program, as well as Executive Director of the Lifers Safety Initiative, formerly served 36 years at SCI Graterford prior to commutation
  
  Tina Dixon Spence, Executive Assistant to the Director of the Pennsylvania Prison Society, formerly incarcerated at SCI Muncy
  

For more information on the colloquium or individual speakers, contact one of the series faculty coordinators:

Atiya Kai Stokes-Brown, political science - aksb001@bucknell.edu
Michael Rabinder James, political science - mjames@bucknell.edu