Ben Schatz
New York City public defender and founder of the nonprofit Books Beyond Bars, known for sending requested books to incarcerated people and advocating on criminal justice issues.
Best podcasts with Ben Schatz
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Mar 5, 2026 • 56min
The NYC Public Defender Who Sends Books to Prisoners
Ben Schatz, a New York City public defender who founded Books Beyond Bars to send requested books to incarcerated people, discusses True Grit and the role of literature behind bars. He describes how books offer escape and dignity, critiques plea bargaining and mass incarceration, and reflects on compassion, mental health in prisons, and practical ideas to improve the system.
