Criminal justice experts discussed the inefficacy of the death penalty and the need for its abolition in a Tuesday roundtable.
In the event hosted by the Northwestern Prison Education Program, panelists broke down the history of the death penalty and the systemic harm it has caused, and offered other ways to facilitate accountability and rehabilitation within the prison system. Each panelist shared their encounters with the death penalty and discussed the ways it has impacted Americans’ lives particularly people of color, who are incarcerated at disproportionately high rates.
Pritzker Prof. and panelist Meredith Rountree said the death penalty has evolved in the United States to eliminate methods of execution determined unconstitutional. However, she said the U.S. policy still differs from other countries in its application.