The Stoop Storytelling Series and OSI-Baltimore present “Justice Talking: Stories about crime, punishment, and life (and death) in the legal system.” The show, timed to the the 50th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case Gideon v. Wainwright, will be preceded by a launch party for the publication of local author Karen Houppert’s book, Chasing Gideon: The Elusive Quest for Poor People’s Justice (New Press).

The evening will feature seven storytellers telling seven-minute true, personal, tales about their experiences with the criminal justice system.

Storytellers include Fred Bealefeld, former commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department, and Carol Dee Huneke, a Spokane public defender featured in Chasing Gideon. We’ll also hear from former Community Conferencing organizer Dan Lipstein and Monica Scott, who after serving a prison sentence, is now a substance abuse outreach referral counselor. Rita Tate, a mother who has a son in prison, will talk about her fight to re-establish the possibility of release for those sentenced to life with parole. And filmmaker Jeff Dugan tells a story about his day in court.

Co-founders and co-producers Laura Wexler and Jessica Henkin began The Stoop Storytelling Series in Baltimore in 2006. Throughout its seven seasons, The Stoop has featured more than 400 “ordinary” people telling true, personal tales about the universal human experience.

Advance Tickets Recommended. All seats general admission seating.