Miriam Pawel
Miriam Pawel, Rethinking Crime, Punishment, and Redemption in California
Between them, Pat and Jerry Brown governed California for nearly a quarter of a century, shaping the modern state in myriad ways. Among the realms in which they both had lasting impact, the state’s criminal justice system stands out. They selected more than a thousand judges, remade California’s highest court (three times), shaped the sentencing structure and its prisons, and issued pardons and commutations. In this talk, Miriam Pawel will trace the evolution of each man’s thinking and practice, explore the consequences, and place their actions in the context of their guiding beliefs and principles.