wfn.org | Nominees Sought For Restorative Justice Award

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

13-January-1998 
98009 
 
    Nominees Sought For Restorative Justice Award 
 
    by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--Nominations are being sought of Presbyterian individuals 
or groups who are making outstanding contributions to reform of the 
criminal justice system in the United States. 
 
    The annual Restorative Justice Award, established in 1991, will be 
presented at the upcoming 210th General Assembly in Charlotte, N.C., June 
13-20. 
 
    "Restorative justice" addresses the hurts and needs of the victim, the 
offender and the community in such a way that all -- victim, offender and 
community -- might be healed. 
 
    Previous winners of the award include 
 
    *  the Rev. James M. Brown (1992), who after his retirement studied law 
       and now serves as an assistant to the Humboldt County (Calif.) 
       public defender and founded the county's Teen Court for juvenile 
       offenders 
    *  the Criminal Justice Team of New Covenant Presbytery (1993) for its 
       work within the criminal justice system and churches of the Houston 
       area 
    *  the Rev. Deborah Haffner (1994), who founded the Elizabeth Fry 
       Center in San Francisco, in which women prisoners serve their 
       sentences in a group residence with their young children instead of 
       in a traditional prison 
    *  Western Carolinians for Criminal Justice (1995), an Asheville, 
       N.C.-based organization that provides community-based alternative 
       sentencing programs designed to facilitate rehabilitation of 
       offenders 
    *  Patrick J. Morris (1996), a Presbyterian elder and Superior Court 
       judge in San Bernardino County (Calif.), who has provided national 
       leadership in improving drug, family and juvenile courts throughout 
       the country 
    *  John B. Nisbet III (1997), a Presbyterian elder and assistant 
       district attorney general for the 13th Judicial District in 
       Tennessee, for his efforts to improve the domestic violence/child 
       abuse protection unit, including creation of its Skills to Avoid 
       Violence Program. 
 
    Nominations for the award may be submitted by a congregation, governing 
body, related agency of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) or any other group 
within the denomination, but not by individuals.  The winner will be 
selected by the National Ministries Division Committee. 
 
    Deadline for nominations is March 16.  More information is obtainable 
from the Rev. Kathy Lancaster, Presbyterian Criminal Justice Office, 100 
Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202.  The phone number is (502) 
569-5803. 

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