Gabfest Reads is a monthly series from the hosts of Slate’s Political Gabfest podcast. Recently, Emily Bazelon talked with Judith Resnik about her new book, Impermissible Punishments: How Prison Became a Problem for Democracy . During part of their discussion, they explored the history in America’s prisons of whipping prisoners.

This partial transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Emily Bazelon: In your book, you ask a central question: What do governments committed to equality owe to the people they detain? And you’re also making an argument about why, in your view, many contemporary forms of punishment should end. I wanted to start with a central incident in your book, and I think inspiration for writing this book, which is a remarkable trial that took place in A

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