American prisoners and the challenges faced once they’re released will be the focus of an upcoming symposium at Georgia State University’s Perimeter College in Dunwoody.
Dr. Peter Lindsay, Georgia State associate professor, and Dr. Danielle Sweat Whylly, United States Attorney’s Office, will lead the lecture “Life After Prison: The Real Truth About Reentry” on Thursday, Feb. 23 from 1-2:15 p.m. on the Dunwoody campus, NC1100.
Despite having 4% of the world’s population, the United States holds 24% of the world’s incarcerated population. Why does the U.S. imprison more of its population than any other nation, and what can be done to help formerly incarcerated people reenter society successfully?
Dr. Danielle Sweat Whylly from the United States Justice Department will discuss how the Justice Department is engaging in successful reentry programs, and Dr. Peter Lindsay from Georgia State University will discuss why humane treatment of the incarcerated makes for a stronger society and how Georgia State is engaging in practices to facilitate successful reentry.
According to Lindsay, one of the most critical issues for inmates and ex-convicts centers on education. “It may be that they go in as criminals, but we need to ensure that while they go in as criminals, they don’t come out that way,” Lindsay said.
He stresses the importance of giving inmates and those formerly incarcerated opportunities to earn college degrees, noting that he and a few other colleagues are in the early stages of initiatives aimed at doing this. “There are concerns, and understandable concerns, so we have to move forward considering many facets,” said Lindsay, who recently taught philosophy for inmates at Georgia’s Phillips State Prison.
“Life After Prison: The Real Truth About Reentry” is part of Georgia State’s Sarah Larson Lecture Series in the Humanities program. The committee welcomes students, faculty, and staff, as well as members of the community to join in the discussion of why we must move past being the world’s leading incarceration nation. A Q&A will follow the presentations.
Faculty are welcome to bring their classes, however, students are encouraged to sign in at the event in addition to any documentation required by their instructors. This will ensure more accurate documentation of event attendance and assist the committee in obtaining grants to fund future events.
The lecture is free and open to the public at the Perimeter College-Dunwoody Campus auditorium, 2101 Womack Road, NC Building, room 1100. Contact Megan Levacy for more information: mlevacy@gsu.edu or 770-274-5583.
Please click here for a good quality PDF of the event flyer.
