Webinar
Life Without Parole in the Era of Mass Incarceration
This webinar discusses the origins of life without parole and its transformation from a rarely imposed punishment to a starkly common sentence today.
Related to: Sentencing Reform, Incarceration, Racial Justice
Fifty years ago, the United States embarked on a path of mass incarceration that created a staggering increase in the prison population made possible, in part, by lengthening prison terms and expanding the use of life without parole (LWOP). Today, 55,000 people are serving LWOP sentences.
Listen to this webinar to learn more about the origins of LWOP and its transformation from a rarely imposed punishment to a starkly common sentence today.
Speakers:
- Christopher Seeds, Author, Death by Prison: The Emergence of Life without Parole and Perpetual Confinement (2022)
- Keith Wattley, Executive Director, UnCommon Law
- Anthony Willis, Served 26 Years of an LWOP sentence, commuted and released in 2022
- Ben Finholt, Director, Just Sentencing Project, Wilson Center for Science and Justice at Duke Law
Moderator: Ashley Nellis, Ph.D., Co-Director of Research, The Sentencing Project
