The Walls Turned Sideways

The Walls Turned Sideways interpreted tour, developed by Dr. Maru Colbert-Her'tazhe, inspired several courses of action regarding the wrongful treatment of BIPOCs in the criminal justice system. 

One of these actions was a town hall meeting, which took place over Zoom and was livestreamed on Facebook. Hundreds of people attended this candid, open, and, at times, highly charged discussion that featured individuals involved at all levels of the criminal justice system, including two wrongfully accused individuals. 

Another initiative is the project presented here. This educational intervention is designed for young people, and it includes informative segments prepared for their parent community. It serves as both an outreach activity and a prelude to youth viewings of the films produced by The Innocent Convicts (TIC). Research has shown that the level of general and criminal justice-specific knowledge and education one possesses is the best predictor of the likelihood of becoming involved in the court system in the short and/or long term.

A series of social justice courses aligned with five of the Walls Turned Sideways exhibits: "LA PD Uniform," "Sgt. Kroll Goes to the Office," "Index II & II," "Trophy Collection," and "Prison Maps," was offered in the Fall of 2022. Another set was offered in Spring 2023 by Dr. Maru Colbert. These courses provide valuable STEM education with an awareness of criminal justice practices in a social justice context. Five organizations collaborated with their students for the first offering.