Join Columbia University’s Center for Justice and Center for Institutional and Social Change on September 24, 4-6pm at Columbia Law for a book launch and discussion of The Real Pain of Punishment by Federica Coppola. This book explores carceral harm through the lens of the fundamental human need to belong, examining how recognizing belonging in the carceral context can reshape thresholds of prison legitimacy, from sentencing severity to the (in)humanity of prison conditions. The final chapter, co-authored with scholars currently and formerly incarcerated in a New York State facility, reflects on how embracing belonging can inform responses to harm grounded in humanization, proximity, empowerment, and collaboration. Ultimately, the book calls for deeper epistemic dialogue in legal discourse on crime, punishment, and justice.

The event brings together the author and co-authors to discuss key themes of the book with a moderated conversation led by Susan Sturm and including legal practitioners and professors Steve Zeidman, Adam Kolber and Alice Ristroph.

Register here: https://lnkd.in/ert5Aqun

Order the book or Access through your University Account here:
https://lnkd.in/ejB8RuYc