{"id":13004,"date":"2011-03-12T14:46:35","date_gmt":"2011-03-12T19:46:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/law.marquette.edu\/facultyblog\/?p=13004"},"modified":"2011-03-12T14:46:35","modified_gmt":"2011-03-12T19:46:35","slug":"restorative-justice-conference-to-focus-on-clergy-sex-abuse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/law.marquette.edu\/facultyblog\/2011\/03\/restorative-justice-conference-to-focus-on-clergy-sex-abuse\/","title":{"rendered":"Restorative Justice Conference to Focus on Clergy Sex Abuse"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is not just an American problem \u2013 it is an international issue for the Catholic Church. This year\u2019s Marquette Law School Restorative Justice Conference on April 4 & 5, 2011, will focus on Harm, Hope, and Healing: International Dialogue on the Clergy Sex Abuse Scandal<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Those attending will be able to hear the stories of victims as well as those who are working with victims from Boston, Ireland, and Australia.\u00a0 Also a group of clergy will speak from the heart about what they have learned.<\/p>\n

Marquette Law School\u2019s Restorative Justice Initiative (RJI) is a unique model demonstrative of the university\u2019s commitment as a Catholic, Jesuit institution to promote excellence, faith, leadership, and service.\u00a0 RJI educates law students as leaders who can bring together victims, offenders, and other community members to focus on resolving harm and conflict in our communities. Whereas the traditional justice system is retributive in nature, restorative justice is a process that creates a safe environment for dialogue, helping communities share their experiences.\u00a0 The process has been shown to decrease recidivism, create cost efficiencies in the court system, provide improved outcomes for clients and victims, and change the face of judicial practice in the resolution of crime.<\/p>\n

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No other accredited law school has a restorative justice program comparable to Marquette\u2019s. <\/strong>Established in 2004, the initiative boasts a successful track record as it is poised to do even more on behalf of victims and communities.\u00a0 Specifically, Marquette University seeks to expand and formally organize the RJI, creating a sustainable resource known as the Restorative Justice Center (RJC) \u2014 intended to serve as the<\/em> center in the U.S. for conducting education, research, and service related to restorative justice.<\/p>\n

Accomplishments: <\/strong> Based on my experience in pro bono prison work and as a former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice, I was inspired to found the Restorative Justice Initiative (RJI) at Marquette Law.\u00a0 Over the past seven years, \u00a0our RJI has put on five highly successful community conferences that have grown to include more than 300 guests. I also teach a course in restorative justice, and direct the RJ Clinic.\u00a0 Approximately 20 to 25 students enroll in either of two course offerings per semester.\u00a0 Most of these students participate in RJ-related projects; approximately ten students per year work directly with victims, offenders, and community members in \u201ctalking circles\u201d conducted through the RJ Clinic.<\/p>\n

Other RJI accomplishments include:<\/p>\n