October 11, 2006

(Columbia, MD) – Howard Community College (HCC) is hosting the first restorative justice conference in Maryland on Thursday evening November 16 and Friday November 17, 2006 in the Kittleman Room of the English, Language, Business building (ELB-100) on the college campus.  The conference co-sponsors are HCC's Mediation and Conflict Resolution Center (MCRC), the Maryland Chapter of the Association for Conflict Resolution, Maryland Office of Conflict Resolution, Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, Maryland Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, the Open Society Institute, Woodbourne Center, and the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.  Criminal/juvenile justice officials, victim and offender service providers, alternative dispute practitioners, students and other members of community organizations can all benefit from the conference. The Thursday evening opening event is 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.  The Friday conference is 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. with registration followed by opening remarks, keynote speaker Dr. Gordon Bazemore, a panel discussion on the Balanced and Restorative Justice Model in Pennsylvania, and a dozen workshop options through closing at 5 p.m.  The fee for Thursday evening only is $15; Thursday evening and Friday conference is $50 in advance or $60 on-site.  HCC is located at 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Maryland 21044.  For more information, contact conference co-chair and MCRC Director Charles Tracy at 410-772-4651 or email info@marylandrjconference.org.

Restorative justice is a relatively new movement in the United States that focuses on healing the harm that has resulted from crime as a viable alternative to the traditional retributive justice that focuses on punishing the person who committed the crime.  The conference mission is to increase understanding and use of restorative justice principles, practices and programs, as well as to establish new efforts throughout Maryland. 

Keynote speaker Dr. Gordon Bazemore is director of the Criminal Justice Institute and professor at Florida Atlantic University.  His primary research interests include juvenile justice, youth policy, community policing, corrections, and victims' issues.  He is the author of 45 journal articles, numerous book chapters and monographs on these topics.

The MCRC at HCC works in partnership with community organizations, service groups and the justice system to provide community mediation, restorative dialogue, and other conflict resolution services for Howard County residents.