Leaders in Restorative Justice to Meet at UTSA

 

The National Conference on Restorative Justice will be held at the UTSA Downtown Campus on May 13-15, 2009. The website for the conference is www.restorativejusticenow.org.  This conference will bring many of the world’s leading researchers, educators and practitioners to UTSA.  Between 350 and 450 people from around the world are expected to attend for the conference. Dr. Michael J. Gilbert (left), Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, is leading the planning effort for the conference.

 

Restorative justice is a theory of justice rooted in communal concepts of justice employed by indigenous people throughout human history.  It is consistent with many cultures and many faith traditions.  It views crime as more than a violation of law.  Crime is a violation of people and relationships which causes harms.  Under this perspective, justice focuses on the active involvement of offenders in making amends and repairing the harms they have caused.  This is accomplished through mediated dialogue between direct and indirect victims and offenders.  Restorative processes seek to answer three questions:  What harm was done?  What needs to be done to repair the harm?  Who is responsible for the repair?  The process of addressing these questions promotes healing of victims, safer and more livable communities, and reintegration of both victims and offenders into society.  Restorative justice is gaining recognition around the world as an important and effective alternative to traditional justice.  

 

In November of 2007, the College of Public Policy at UTSA approved a proposal to host the 2009 conference submitted by Mr. John W. Byrd, a Lecturer III in criminal justice.  Following that decision, John took a leave of absence for a serious illness.  Dr. Gilbert stepped in to continue the planning process in John’s place and assumed the role of Lead Organizer upon John’s passing to ensure that his vision of would be fulfilled. The Organizing Committee recently established The John W. Byrd Pioneer Award for Restorative and Community Justice in John’s memory.  It will be awarded at the Awards Banquet on May 14, 2008 to recognize sustained and important contributions to research, education or practice in restorative and/or community justice.

 

The Organizing Committee is composed of representatives from universities, colleges and organizations.  The common thread that binds them is their interest in broadening restorative justice research, teaching and practice.  The committee has raised more than $30,000 in pledged donations to support the conference from the following sponsors:

 

• The University of Texas at San Antonio, College of Public Policy (Center for Policy Studies and Department of Criminal Justice);
• School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin;
• St. Mary's University, School of Law;
• Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law;
• Schreiner University, Kerrville, Texas;
• Crosspoint, Inc. of San Antonio;
• Sam Houston State University, Correctional Management Institute of Texas;
• Baptist General Convention of Texas;
• Ghost Ranch National Conference Center of Santa Fe and Abiquiu, New Mexico;
• The SoL (Source of Light) Center at University Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, Texas;
• The United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society.

Sponsorships from these organizations are supporting the organizing efforts as well as the costs to bring leading experts to the conference.  The keynote speakers and featured workshop include:

 

• Dr. Kathleen Daly (Professor of Criminology & Criminal Justice, Griffith University, Australia),
• Dr. Michael Hadley (Professor Emeritus of the University of Victoria and a Fellow of the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society, Canada),
• Dr. Jennifer Llewellyn (Professor, Dalhousie Law School, Canada),
• Dr. Paul McCold (Visiting Professor, Simon Fraser University, Canada),
• Dr. Mark Umbreit (Professor and Director of the Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking, School of Social Work, University of Minnesota),
• Dr. Gordon Bazemore (Professor and Chair in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, and Director of the Community Justice Institute),
• Dr. Dan Van Ness (Executive Director, Centre for Justice and Reconciliation at Prison Fellowship International, Washington, DC),
• Justice Robert Yazzie (former Chief Justice Navajo Nations),
• Justice Janine Geske (Distinguished Professor of Law, Marquette University and former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice), and
• Mr. Leigh Garrett (Chair, Restorative Practices International, Australia).

The National Conference on Restorative Justice is the first function coordinated by the Office of Community and Restorative Justice, College of Public Policy at UTSA as a new resource for research, teaching and practice in restorative and community justice.