Educate. Engage. Empower.
From classroom-ready lesson plans to tours, workshops, and professional development opportunities, we offer content that accommodates a wide variety of learning styles and subject matter, featuring expertise from universities, school districts, and thought leaders across the country. Together, we can shape a transformative learning experience that connects past to present and encourages critical thinking about the pathways forward.
Classroom Resources
Integrate justice education into your curriculum - these innovative tools help educators navigate the complexities of the justice system in a classroom setting.
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Professional Development
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School Tours & Workshops
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Panel Discussions
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Educational Videos
LEARN MOREThe Collaboratory for Justice Education
The Collaboratory for Justice Education, powered by the Eastern State Center for Justice Education, is a dynamic community of dedicated and enthusiastic people with a shared passion for justice education.
LEARN MOREPlan a Group Visit
With virtual, in-person, guide-led, and self-guided options, there’s something for everyone at Eastern State. Learn more and make your group reservation today.
Upcoming Justice Education Events
Justice 101
Monday, September 01 - Friday, July 31, 2026
Join us each month as we dive into some of the most pressing issues in criminal justice today, through a historical lens and with a focus on civic education. Each program includes interactive online or in-person elements, expert voices, and opportunities for community dialogue.
Fireside Chat: Justice & Journalism
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
11:00am - 11:45am
In Person: Included with admission. Online: Free. Advance registration required. Join us for an intimate fireside chat with Jy’Aire Smith-Pennick, a writer, justice advocate, and truth-teller. In this conversation, Jy’Aire reflects on the power of journalism as a tool for accountability and healing.
Justice 101: Freedom Behind Bars
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Online. Advance registration required. This Constitution Day, Moira Marquis (FIRE), Yukari Iwatani Kane (Prison Journalism Project), and Alexandra Morgan-Kurtz (Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project) will lead a discussion about how freedom of expression is restricted and fought for within the American criminal justice system.
Petey Greene Program Event: Economic Freedom and Opportunity for All
Thursday, September 18, 2025
5:30pm - 8:00pm
By invitation only. Private event for the Petey Greene Program. Philadelphia C-Suite leaders are invited to join the Eastern State Center for Justice Education and Petey Greene Program for a powerful conversation with industry leaders championing second chances through employment.
School District of Philadelphia Teacher Workshop: The 13th Amendment and Prison Labor
Friday, October 10, 2025
All Day
The Eastern State Center for Justice Education welcomes Philadelphia School District Social Studies Teachers for a workshop on Prison Labor and the 13th Amendment as part of a district-wide professional development day.
Justice 101: State of the Union: Excessive Punishment The 8th Amendment and the Justice System
Thursday, October 23, 2025
6:00pm - 8:30pm
What does it mean for a punishment to be cruel and unusual? How has the interpretation of the Eighth Amendment shaped American justice over time and where is its legal interpretation today?
2025 PA Civics Educator Forum
Thursday, November 13, 2025
8:00am - 3:30pm
Off-site event at Marywood University School of Education. The Eastern State Center for Justice Education joins and facilitates a workshop at “Teaching America’s 250th Anniversary: Understanding Our Past, Shaping What’s Next,” a professional development forum for educators presented by PA Civics.
Scout Days
Saturday, November 15 - Saturday, November 14, 2026
Led by our engaging staff, all Scout Days participants will enjoy interactive discussions and activities. Members of Scouting America and Girl Scouts of the USA will also meet badge requirements.
In-Person Scout Day: Architecture
Saturday, November 15, 2025
All Day
$21 per person. Advance registration required. Eastern State invites members of Scouting America, Girl Scouts of the USA, and all youth to join us for In-Person Scout Day: Architecture. Led by our engaging staff, learn more about Eastern State Penitentiary's history, the building's unique design, the ethics of prison architecture, and careers in architecture and historic preservation.
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Justice 101: Restorative Justice: A Closer Look at Alternatives
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
5:30pm - 7:30pm
Explore the dynamics of restorative justice, a practice that offers a transformative approach to addressing harm, emphasizing dialogue and understanding between victims and perpetrators as a path to healing and closure.
Virtual Scout Day: Architecture
Sunday, December 07, 2025
11:00am - 2:15pm
$17 per participant. Online via Zoom. Advance registration required. Eastern State invites members of Scouting America, Girl Scouts of the USA, and all youth to join us for Virtual Scout Day: Architecture. Led by our engaging staff, learn more about Eastern State Penitentiary's history, the building's unique design, the ethics of prison architecture, and careers in architecture and historic preservation.
Justice 101: Bill of Rights: Trial Amendments and the Rights of the Accused
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
11:00am - 1:00pm
Join us for this dynamic conversation as we trace the evolving promise of due process and its enduring impact on human dignity and the justice system. Date and time subject to change.
Justice 101: The Civil Rights Movement: Finding Justice and Calling on the Declaration of Independence
Thursday, January 01, 2026
All Day
Date and details to be confirmed—please check back for updates.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Monday, January 19, 2026
All Day
Free online. Included with admission in person. Commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and contemplate the significance and ongoing relevance of his pivotal civil rights texts, including his 1963 “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and famous "I Have a Dream" speech, during an all-day event at Eastern State Penitentiary.
Justice 101: The First Amendment and Incarceration: Natural Right to Freedom of Expression
Sunday, February 01, 2026
All Day
Date and details to be confirmed—please check back for updates.
Justice 101: Women and Incarceration
Sunday, March 01, 2026
All Day
Date and details to be confirmed—please check back for updates.
Virtual Scout Day
Saturday, March 14, 2026
All Day
Led by our expert staff and partners with expertise in historic preservation, architecture, and construction trades, scouts will enjoy a full day of virtual, interactive discussions and activities. Details to be confirmed—please check back for updates.
Justice 101: To Establish Justice: Reentry and Recidivism
Wednesday, April 01, 2026
All Day
Date and details to be confirmed—please check back for updates.
In Person Scout Day
Sunday, April 19, 2026
All Day
Led by our engaging staff, all In-Person Scout Day participants will enjoy interactive discussions and activities. Members of Scouting America and Girl Scouts of the USA will also meet badge requirements. Details to be confirmed—please check back for updates.
Justice 101: National Historic Preservation: The Power of Place
Friday, May 01, 2026
All Day
Date and details to be confirmed—please check back for updates.
Justice 101: The History of the Justice System in England and America
Wednesday, July 01, 2026
All Day