Maintaining Momentum: Redefining the Purpose of Incarceration in the Ongoing Conversations about Criminal Justice Reform

Dear Colleague, 

The Justice Programs Office, a center at the School of Public Affairs at American University, would like to invite you to a daylong summit entitled Maintaining Momentum: Redefining the Purpose of Incarceration in the Ongoing Conversations about Criminal Justice Reform on March 30, 2017 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM  in the 6^th Floor auditorium (Room 602) of American University’s Spring Valley Building (4801 Massachusetts Avenue N.W.).

This summit will tackle the challenging question of how to maintain the momentum we’ve recently seen to reduce the number of people incarcerated in America’s jails and prisons. We will look at multiple trigger points in the criminal justice system and examine how decisions at each step impact mass incarceration and what changes can be made to alleviate this problem, saving money while promoting public safety and justice. In doing so, we seek to address the question what is the true purpose of incarceration.

Panels will address topics of:

• Police and community relations
• Pretrial release and diversion
• Defense and prosecution
• Sentencing, prison, and reentry
• Racial and ethnic disproportionality

Attendees will include national, state and local policymakers, academics, practitioners, community members and other experts to discuss the future of criminal justice reform. The program will include keynote speakers, panels, and network breaks where ideas can be discussed and debated. Proceedings of the meeting will be made available following the summit. You can find the agenda here. 

Meeting space is limited to 100 people. Please take a moment to respond today to guarantee your seat. If you are unable to attend, please note that we will be livestreaming the event in its entirety at: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/au-school-of-public-affairs-channel.

We are pleased that American University’s School of Public Affairs will be providing lunch for the day. 

Sincerely,

Kim A. Ball, esq.                                                                                                                                                     Director, Justice Programs Office 

Register Now!