Tuesday, April 30, 2013, 5pm-7-m,  Gasson 100

An estimated 500 17-year-olds are sent to adult jails or prisons in Massachusetts every year often for only minor offenses. These youths should be treated as children and not as adults. Once incarcerated, these youths are exposed to older more mature and often more hardened criminals. Youths are more likely to be sexually victimized in a system that offers little in terms of rehabilitation. 

This panel, Youth in Prison, brings together an esteemed group of individuals working to improve our system.  These speakers will discuss the realities of the prison system and discuss efforts being implemented to create positive change. The panel will be followed by a Q & A.

T. J. Parsell, filmmaker, author and human rights activist is dedicated to ending sexual violence in prison. His book, Fish: A Memoir of a Boy in a Man’s Prison, is based on his own victimization as a juvenile in prison and his feature length film of the same name is in development. His Campaign for Responsible Justice is committed to the fairness and safety of all men, women and children held in U.S. detention.  

David Chura, is the author of I Don’t Wish Nobody to Have a Life Like Mine: Tales of Kids in Adult Lockup. He has worked with at-risk teenagers for the past 40 years teaching English and creative writing in community based alternative schools and in a county penitentiary. His writings have appeared in the New York Times as well as other scholarly and literary journals and blogs at kidsinthesystem.wordpress.com.

Massachusetts State Representative Kay Khan has been representing the people of Newton since 1995. She is currently involved with the Criminal Justice Commission charged with reviewing the proposed five year master plan for the Massachusetts Department of Corrections. Furthermore, she is an outspoken advocate for progressive policies for incarcerated individuals.

Francine Sherman, the panel moderator, is a Associate Clinical Professor at Boston College Law School will introduce the three speakers and moderate the following Q & A. Francine has been teaching Juvenile Justice for the past twenty years. She founded and directs the Juvenile Rights Advocacy Project and co-founded and serves as President of the Board of Artistic Noise, Inc., using art to teach and empower teens in the justice system. 

These authors’ books will be available along with refreshments following the event.

Artwork from Artistic Noise, Inc. will be on display at the event.

For more information contact Crystal Tiala at tiala@bc.edu

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The AMEN Projects (Artists Movement to Engage Nonviolence) are part of a multi-religious committee of artists, architects, and human rights activists seeking peace and tolerance among all religions.

The first project is to produce all the artwork for the rebuilding of a church in Khartoum, Sudan, which was burned down by religious fanatics on April 21st, 2012.  Boston College Adjunct Professor, Khalid Kodi, is overseeing the mural paintings with a group of student artists.

In addition to providing artwork for the church, the AMEN team also works to increase awareness of religious intolerance and the consequences of burning houses of worship. We conduct interviews with scholars, artists, and human rights activits who shed light on their cause. 

For more information and to see their work go to amen-projects.com.