The Vera Institute of Justice teamed up with Chicago Ideas to reenvision the American prison system, and imagine a society in which prisons serve as rehabilitation facilities for communities and citizens, rather than as crippling institutions. The event combined performance, first-person testimony, and compelling dialogue that all looked into not only how the American prison system can cause “civil death,” but also what everyday citizens can do to help reshape the way in which incarceration affects the country.

Part One: Designed to Dehumanize—This portion consisted of a dramatic reading that placed the American prison system and the experiences of incarcerated people into historical context, underscoring how incarceration is a form of never-ending punishment for millions of people who are penalized long after their release.