More than 2 million people are imprisoned in the United States, but is incarceration always the best solution? The 23rd Annual Braun Symposium at The John Marshall Law School will examine restorative justice practices as an alternative to mass incarceration during a two-day conference that features judges, prosecutors, public defenders, legislators and criminal justice reform experts.
Restorative justice is a rapidly developing area of criminal justice reform focused on reducing recidivism rates and mass incarceration by not only addressing, but rebuilding, the relationship between victim and offender. The Braun Symposium will focus on the practice applications of restorative justice in the correctional system, the judicial system and the communities impacted by crime.
Speakers include Kim Fox, Democratic candidate for Cook County State’s Attorney; La Shawn Ford, Illinois State Representative for the 8th District; Justice Janine Geske, former Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Distinguished Professor of Law and Director of the Restorative Justice Initiative at Marquette University School of Law; Hon. Sheila Murphy and Professor Michael Seng, Co-Directors of John Marshall’s Restorative Justice Project. Mario Marazziti, President, XII Social Affairs Commission on the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Parliament and author of “13 Ways of Looking at the Death Penalty” will give a special video address. See the complete list of speakers and presenters here.
“Restorative justice’s focus on the offender, the victim and the community offers a comprehensive means to correct anti-social behavior and restore harmony to the community. Restorative justice acknowledges the interconnectedness of all parties to a dispute. Offenders accept responsibilities for their actions; victims become survivors who see that that their injuries are recognized and redressed to the extent possible; the community acknowledges that it is not a mere observer but an active participant in the process. In the end, all three constituencies are benefitted. How this can be accomplished in the real world is the focus of this exciting conference,” said Seng.
The conference is free, but registration is required and space is limited. To register, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2016-braun-symposium-restorative-justice-in-action-charting-a-more-humane-path-for-our-criminal-tickets-27016155047
About the Belle R. & Joseph H. Braun Memorial Symposium
The Braun Memorial Lecture Series honors the legacy of Joseph H. Braun, a 1918 graduate and his wife Belle. The inaugural lecture was held in 1989, the year of his passing. Since then the lecture series has featured a number of distinguished panels and speakers on topics including constitutional law, criminal law, environmental law and international human rights.
