Crime and Punishment in a Race and Class-Conscious Society

Eighth Event in an OSI-Baltimore Series Two Prominent Scholars Discuss How Race Plays a Role In the U.S. Criminal Justice System

What: Eighth event in the series, “Talking About Race,” with Bryan Stevenson, executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, and Renée Hutchins, professor at the University of Maryland Law School, who will discuss how race affects attitudes and outcomes in the U.S. criminal justice system

When: 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 20

Where: Enoch Pratt Free Library, Wheeler Auditorium, 400 Cathedral Street, Baltimore

BALTIMORE – The American justice system prides itself on being “blind” – impartial and without favoring identity, power, race or class. But for many Americans who are poor, Hispanic or African-American, the system seems anything but.

Many believe the system discriminates against racial minorities as evidenced by racial profiling, the disproportionate number of minorities arrested, prosecuted and incarcerated and disparities in laws – such as sentencing rules for drug offenses.

OSI-Baltimore has invited two experts on the topic – Bryan Stevenson, executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, and Renée Hutchins, a professor at the University of Maryland Law School – to discuss their research-based views on how race and class affect outcomes in the nation’s criminal justice system and whether justice is possible in a race-based society.

Stevenson has won national recognition for his work challenging bias against the poor and people of color in the criminal justice system. In November, he argued in front of the Supreme Court on behalf of juveniles who have been charged and tried as adults. He and his staff have been successful in overturning dozens of capital murder cases and death sentences in which poor people have been unconstitutionally convicted or sentenced.

Hutchins is a researcher and writer in the field of criminal procedure. She has served as a federal prosecutor with the tax division of the United States Department of Justice, a special assistant U.S. attorney in the District of Columbia and as a criminal defense attorney with the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta and for the office of Appellate Defender in New York City.

The free and open-to-the-public performance is the eighth event in OSI-Baltimore’s series, “Talking About Race,” addressing race from different perspectives, and why it is important to discuss the topic openly and intelligently.

Since the historic election of the nation’s first African-American president, individuals, groups and even officials at the highest levels are engaging the subject of race more often than ever before. But in Baltimore, race is rarely easily discussed.

A year ago, OSI-Baltimore boldly began that conversation, adding “race” to its agenda of important topics to tackle by sponsoring the series.

The series – which has been co-sponsored by the Enoch Pratt Free Library – has been so well attended and widely lauded that OSI-Baltimore plans to continue bringing provocative speakers to Baltimore to explore sensitive racial issues. This latest event was made possible by a grant from the Maryland Humanities Council, through support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The city is urged to get involved. Individuals are encouraged to submit their personal stories about enlightening, moving or thought-changing encounters with race to storiesaboutrace.org