Inside Voices: The Free Speech Rights Of Incarcerated Americans

Tuesday, April 16, 7-9pm
Gaston Hall
 

The Free Speech Project and the Prisons and Justice Initiative were proud to announce this major public forum, which focused on the free speech rights of incarcerated Americans. The program addressed such issues as the censorship of thousands of books from prison libraries, restrictions on mail and other information and materials that prisoners can receive or obtain, and limitations on what incarcerated authors can write and publish. Panelists discussed the challenge of balancing fundamental First Amendment rights with legitimate concerns about public safety, victims’ rights, and the overall security of the residents and staff within each correctional facility.

Featuring:

• Bill Keller, Editor-in-Chief, The Marshall Project
• Amy Fettig, Deputy Director, ACLU Prisons Project
• Robert Green, Director, Department of Correction and Rehabilitation, Montgomery County, MD
• Sekwan Merritt, Paralegal, Arnold and Porter
• Joel Castón, Incarcerated Resident of the DC Jail (by phone)

The event was hosted by Marc Howard, Director of the Prisons and Justice Initiative, and moderated by Sanford Ungar, Director of the Free Speech Project.