The Challenge of Crime in a Free Society: 50 Years Later

Join The George Washington Law Review and Senior Associate Dean Roger A. Fairfax, Jr. for the Fall 2017 Symposium, "The Challenge of Crime in a Free Society: 50 Years Later."

This Symposium marks the 50th Anniversary of the report by President Lyndon Johnson’s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice, “The Challenge of Crime in a Free Society.” Led by Attorney General Nicholas deB. Katzenbach, the Commission compiled comprehensive data on crime in the United States, discussed the salient issues confronting the criminal justice system, and provided recommendations to address these problems.  

Now, fifty years later, our society continues to face many of the same obstacles to an effective and fair criminal justice system. At a time when there is bipartisan consensus that criminal justice reform is necessary, revisiting “The Challenge of Crime in a Free Society” will provide insights into how to address those questions. Inspired by the focus of the report, the Symposium will examine the essential issues of courts and procedure, technology, policing, corrections and sentencing, prosecution, the War on Drugs, and juvenile justice. The focus will be the future of the criminal justice system and what steps can be taken to achieve reform. This Symposium is particularly timely given the recent bipartisan legislation proposing a new National Criminal Justice Reform Commission modeled on the Johnson Commission.

On Friday, October 27, the Symposium will convene leading criminal law scholars including:

• Mary Sue Backus of the University of Oklahoma College of Law
• Devon Carbado of UCLA School of Law, Angela Davis of American University Washington College of Law
• Brandon Garrett of the University of Virginia School of Law
• Adam Gershowitz of William & Mary Law School
• Kristin Henning of Georgetown University Law Center
• Nancy Leong of University of Denver Sturm College of Law
• Erik Luna of ASU Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
• Paul Marcus of William & Mary Law School
• Tracey Meares of Yale Law School
• Song Richardson of the University of California
• Irvine School of Law, Daniel Richman of Columbia Law School
• Ron Wright of Wake Forest School of Law

In the afternoon on Thursday, October 26, the Symposium will also bring together members of the original Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice, including:

• Judge Patricia Wald, former Chief Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
• Elizabeth Bartholet of Harvard Law School
• Sheldon Krantz of Georgetown University Law Center
• Susan Schapiro

These scholars will provide a historical perspective and shed light on their experience with the Commission as members of a panel moderated by Associate Dean Alan B. Morrison. Chief Judge Patti Saris of the District Court for the District of Massachusetts will speak as well about the evolution of criminal policy since 1967 and the issues still facing us today. She will draw from her expertise developed during her tenure as Chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission from 2010 to 2016.

We hope you will join us for what will be a landmark event in the development of national criminal justice reform. If you have questions about attendance or participation, please contact The George Washington Law Review at [email protected].