NPDL Executive Director Daniel Throop speaking at Harvard Law School on 11/15/22

On Tuesday November 15th, I had the honor of speaking at an event for Harvard Law School’s Prison Legal Assistance Project (PLAP). Harvard PLAP does amazing advocacy work within the Massachusetts state prison system on behalf of incarcerated people. “PLAPPERS” (student attorneys) volunteer their time and talents to protect the legal and human rights of men and women behind bars and our respective organizational missions align perfectly when it comes to amplifying the voices of the voiceless.

We talked about; prison education programs, policy debate and advocacy, the disparities between stated public safety goals and actual practices, punishment versus rehabilitation, obstacles to successful reentry, how to effectively negotiate with DOC leadership and navigate the prison landscape, how the law can be used to effect positive change, and the work of the New England Commission on the Future of Higher Education in Prison.  The overall discussion was engaging, and I left feeling greatly encouraged by the energy for change emanating from this new generation of leaders. The goal is to utilize education and the law to unlock as many minds and doors as possible. Collaboration and tactical creativity are the keys we need to do so.