Criminal Justice Reform & Re-Entry Conference 2022
The second annual Criminal Justice Re-Entry and Reform Conference brings together academics, activists, public officials and formerly incarcerated individuals to address the realities of punishment while incarcerated, and the challenges and opportunities for life after prison. The conference is presented by SFC's Justice Initiative program.
Conference Day 1 - March 31, 2022
Noon – 5 p.m. | Callahan Center
- Job fair
- Reentry organization tabling
- SFC Admissions Office
- Exhibits
3 p.m. | Founders Hall
- Opening remarks
- Film screening of "The Central Park Five" (2012) - This Peabody award-winning documentary follows the story of the 5 men wrongly convicted of the rape of a female jogger in Central Park in 1989. Ultimately exonerated in 2002, the film explores the racial politics and carceral culture that led to their wrongful conviction.
5:20 p.m. | Founders Hall
Q&A Discussion with Kevin Richardson of the “Exonerated Five"
As 1/5th of the Exonerated Five that were ultimately found to be innocent in 2002, Richardson is a motivational speaker, traveling the country to bring awareness to the imbalances in the justice system. He works with the Innocence Project, highlighting the historical biases that continue to impact people of color. The power of his voice and story as witnessed in "The Central Park Five," fueled Kevin's passion to use his platform to inspire positive change in the judicial system.
Conference Day 2 - April 1, 2022
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Callahan Center
Job fair, Reentry organization tabling, SFC admissions table, Exhibits
9:30 a.m. | Founders Hall
Panel Discussion 1 - Education During Reentry: The Prison to College Pipeline
This discussion will highlight the importance of access to college for justice-involved people, and how academic support helps in the overall reentry process. Our panelists include both people who provide educational reentry support and people who have received it.
Moderator: Johnny Perez ’18, National Religious Campaign Against Torture
Speakers:
- Steuben Vega ‘20, The Osborne Association
- Felix Colon ‘18, Prison to the Streets
- Terrance Coffie, Educate Don’t Incarcerate
- Helen Skipper, Junior
- Larry Williams, Senior
- David Sunshine Hamburger, NYU School of Law ‘23
11 a.m. | Founders Hall
Panel Discussion 2 - Innovative Approaches to Reducing Gun and Community Violence
Featuring the founders of Guns for Grants, this panel will address solutions to gun violence, including increasing educational opportunities for justice-involved youths.
Moderator: Johnny Perez ’18, National Religious Campaign Against Torture
Speakers:
- Rashid Littlejohn, Guns for Grants
- Jelani Wray, Guns for Grants
- K. Bain, Cure Violence
- Clifford Pierre, Sophomore
12:30 p.m. | Cafeteria
Coffee/Lunch Break
1:30 p.m. | Founders Hall
Panel Discussion 3 - Live performance & discussion: “Order My Steps”: A play about an incarcerated woman reaching out to her daughter after 20 years of silence, to be followed by a discussion with formerly incarcerated women and mending relationships after incarceration.
Carla Brandberg will play Peg
Pëtra Denison will play Dorian
3 p.m. | Founders Hall
Open Mic/Performances by those directly impacted by the criminal justice system
4 p.m. | Callahan Center
Closing Reception