SC Connecticut News

Yale University recently hosted the annual Justice and Injustice Conference, organized by the Institution for Social and Policy Studies (ISPS) at its Center for the Study of Inequality. The event brought together scholars to discuss the politics of crime and punishment.

Benjamin Justice, a professor from Rutgers University, highlighted similarities between the criminal justice system and education in shaping civic perceptions. "The courtroom is like a stage where the script of justice is performed," he said, pointing out discrepancies between formal intentions and actual practices within these systems.

Justice's presentation was part of a broader discussion on how courts communicate with those accused of crimes. He noted, "The architecture of justice is grand, but the lived experience within its walls can be dishearteningly mundane."

Allison Harris, co-director of CSI and an assistant professor at Yale, expressed pride in the conference's growth over seven years. "This conference represents one of the highlights of my career so far," she stated.

Dara Strolovitch emphasized CSI's mission to foster conversations on inequality across various social dimensions. "These are always timely topics," she remarked.

The conference featured diverse presentations from scholars such as Michael Mueller-Smith on racial mismeasurement in U.S. criminal justice, Milena Ang on human rights violations in Mexican prisons, and Kristen Brock-Petroshius on promoting anti-carceral attitudes through deep canvassing.

Lisa L. Miller from Rutgers praised the conference for cultivating new scholars in political science focused on criminal justice issues. Ariel White acknowledged efforts to apply academic insights toward practical improvements in justice systems. "You see people thinking about...what disparities are within the system that we can improve," she commented.

Kevin Morris from the Brennan Center for Justice highlighted academia's role in storytelling beyond empirical research: "We need to also talk to reporters and testify before Congress."

Overall, attendees recognized both challenges and opportunities for advancing justice reforms amid a polarized political landscape.