Roundtable: Incorrigibles: A Transmedia Public History of Young Women’s Incarceration

Session Submission Type: Roundtable Session

Abstract

Incorrigibles is a transmedia project funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities that brings to life the stories of young women who were incarcerated at the New York State Training School for Girls from 1904-1974. These compelling stories reveal the lasting impact that the criminal justice system has on young women, and they expand our understanding of the history of girls’ confinement. Incorrigibles investigates the developments in young women’s incarceration over the last century, the role of social welfare services, and reflects on how intersections of race and class have contributed to the marginalization of young women’s voices. The project emphasizes the power of storytelling for public engagement and social change.

Over this year, Incorrigibles is developing preliminary designs for an online platform for individuals interested in and affected by young women’s incarceration to investigate and contribute to research materials and storytelling aspects of the project. Focus includes institutional history, gendered policing, and the child welfare system.

Roundtable participants will talk about themes addressed by Incorrigibles and the project’s methods of collecting and presenting data and firsthand accounts on the web. Presentation by panelists will be followed by an open discussion about these plans and designs.

Sub Unit

• Area XIII: Roundtable Sessions

Division of Special Interests

• Divisions of Special Interest / Division on Corrections & Sentencing

• Divisions of Special Interest / Division on Women & Crime

Chair

• Alison Cornyn, Picture Projects / Incorrigibles

Discussants

• Allison McKim, Bard College

• Meda Chesney-Lind, University of Hawaii at Manoa

• Judith A. Ryder, St. John's University

• Kathleen Hulser, Independent Public Historian