Mr. Smith Goes to Prison

Jeff Smith’s fascinating career path has earned him the titles of Senator, Convict, and Professor (in that order). Smith will discuss his recent book, Mr. Smith Goes to Prison: What My Year Behind Bars Taught Me About America’s Prison Crisis. Based on his first-hand experience and insightful analysis, he will offer his suggestions for achieving meaningful prison reform.

Smith’s TED Talk has over 1 million views, and his story has been featured in the Washington Post, Politico, C-SPAN, and This American Life.

Discussion after Smith’s talk will be moderated by UMN Law Professor Francis Shen and will feature a presentation by members of Take Action MN’s Criminal Justice Reform program. Minnesota Representative Tony Cornish, Chair of the Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee, has also been invited.