Date: March 23, 2009
Contact: Lindsay Gladstone
Governors State University
Phone: (708) 534-7090
Fax: (708) 534-8399
Email: l-gladstone@govst.edu
For Immediate Release
University Park, IL, March 23, 2009 - Restorative Justice comes to Governors State University during a weeklong series of informative events covering restorative justice practices in schools, the court system, and our communities. Restorative justice principles call for holistic responses to crimes, offenses, and harms that give victims, communities, and offenders participatory roles in the repair of harms.
The week begins with an Introduction to Restorative Justice on Monday, April 6, from 3 to 5 p.m., in the Cafeteria Annex. Featured participants include Dr. Sherilyn Poole, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students; and Debra Boyd, Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety at GSU.
It will include a presentation of the university’s pilot restorative justice/conflict resolution program by Dr James “Chip” Coldren, Criminal Justice Program Chair; Joanne Smith, Director of Field Sites in the Social Work Program; and Paula Levickas, Academic Advisor in the School of Interdisciplinary Learning.
An explanation of the effectiveness of restorative justice practices in south suburban schools and communities follows on April 7, from 3 to 5 p.m., in the Cafeteria Annex. A demonstration of restorative justice practices applied to adult situations will be presented on April 8, from 3 to 5 p.m., in the Cafeteria Annex.
The week concludes with a Restorative Justice Film Festival, on April 9, from 3 to 5 p.m., in the Cafeteria Annex. Short films and video clips pertaining to realistic restorative justice programs will be screened.
This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Governors State University is located at 1 University Parkway, University Park, Illinois. For more information call (708) 534-4330.
