DRC Recognizes Restorative Justice Week
with “Pathways to a Strengthened Community”
(Columbus) – The
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) will be participating in
International Restorative Justice Week during the week of November 17-23, 2003.
The theme of Restorative Justice Week for this year is “Pathways to a
Strengthened Community.” Restorative Justice Week is recognized each November as
a time to raise awareness about the value and worth of victim involvement and
participation in the justice process, offender accountability by making amends
and community support of both victims and offenders. Prisons and Adult Parole
Authority offices have planned events to take place throughout the week that
will highlight Restorative Justice efforts throughout Ohio.
“Each November we
take time to recognize how important it is to involve victims and the community
in the criminal justice process,” stated DRC Director Reginald A. Wilkinson.
“We believe in restoring justice to the communities that have suffered or lost
due to the choices made by Ohio’s prisoners.”
Restorative
Justice symposiums sponsored by DRC will be held in Cleveland on November 18,
2003 at the Fairmount Presbyterian Church in Cleveland Heights and in Columbus,
November 19, 2003 at the Vern Riffe Tower. Each will begin at 9:00 A.M. Yvette
McGee Brown, Center for Child and Family Advocacy, and Jeff Johnson, Director of
the Department of Community Relations for the City of Cleveland, will be keynote
speakers at these events. Topics such as victim offender dialogue, Citizen
Circles, Victim Awareness Classes and more will be highlighted topics of
discussion.
For more
information, please contact the DRC Public Information Office at (614) 752-1150.