Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction

                                               NEWS RELEASE                                                     

MEDIA ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                             NOVEMBER 8, 2002

DRC Hosts Restorative Justice Marketplace

(Columbus) – The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) will be hosting a Restorative Justice Marketplace on Wednesday, November 13, 2002, at the Corrections Training Academy in Orient, Ohio.  This is only one of several events scheduled to take place as a part of the 2002 Restorative Justice Week.  The Marketplace will include displays from a variety of victims’ organizations and related justice system organizations, as well as information regarding national and international Restorative Justice programs.  Other activities, such as a victim impact panel and a play performed by inmates from the Ross Correctional Institution are scheduled to take place to raise awareness about Restorative Justice and victims’ issues. 

The theme of the 2002 Restorative Justice Week, November 17^th – 23^rd, is “Towards a Justice that Heals”.  Institutions and Adult Parole Authority offices across the state will be hosting events in their local communities during the week to highlight this theme.

“By implementing the themes of Restorative Justice into the everyday programming that DRC and our community partners offer, we are ensuring that offenders are reentering society with a renewed sense of accountability for their actions,” said DRC Director Reginald A. Wilkinson.  Victim impact panel presentations, fundraisers benefiting victims’ groups and other community organizations, institution open houses and brown bag discussions are just a few of the events that are planned. 

Restorative Justice is a philosophy that is being practiced nationally as well as internationally in the justice process.  Victim input, offender accountability and community partnerships are key components to the way of thinking that seeks to repair the far-reaching and often devastating harm caused by crime.  Victim-offender dialogue, victim awareness classes for offenders and citizen circles are examples of some of the programs that DRC has implemented to make Restorative Justice a reality in Ohio.

For more information, please contact the DRC Public Information Office at (614) 752-1150.

Directions to CTA:

From Columbus:

• Take 71 South to Exit 94
• Bear Left on Harrisburg Pike
• Continue on Stahl Road
• Turn Left on High Street
• Turn Left on Fairfield Road/ State Route 762
• Continue on State Route 762