Continuing Legal Ed Program at Saint Martin's will look at improving rehabilitation programs

March 22, 2006

Lacey, Wash.— The challenge of giving ex-felons opportunities for rehabilitation and a fresh start in society while balancing safety concerns will be the focus of a Continuing Legal Education Program April 14 at Saint Martin’s University. A series of three panel discussions on the topic, “Responsible Justice: Balancing Safety with Rehabilitation,” will be presented from 1 to 4 p.m. at the university’s Spangler Hall, 5300 Pacific Ave. SE. The program is sponsored by the Thurston County Bar Association and the university.

With passage of a 2006 bill creating a Joint Select Committee of Offender Programs, Washington’s legislature recognized not only the importance of public safety, but also the need to improve programs that reduce the likelihood that ex-felons will commit another crime. The first panel of speakers will first talk about the role of public policy in creating a cycle of repeat offenders. Panelists will be Sally Harrison, Office of Assigned Counsel; Thurston County Prosecutor Ed Holm; Lakewood Police Chief Larry Saunders; and Thurston County District Court Judge Kip Stilz.

Representing legislative attempts at solutions will be Mary Leftridge Byrd, deputy secretary for community corrections for the State Department of Corrections; State Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood; Roger Kluck of the Friends Committee on Washington Public Policy; and State Rep. Al O’Brien, D-Mountlake Terrace.

Speaking to citizen and faith-based efforts will be Joan Fredrickson, WorkSource Thurston County; the Rev. Carol McKinley; Dr. Edryce Reynolds and Lesta Rogers, both of Citizens for Responsible Justice.

For more information, please contact Saint Martin’s adjunct faculty member Shawn Newman, 360-866-2322.

For more information:

Shawn Newman
Adjunct faculty, business
360-438-4555;
snewman@stmartin.edu

Holly Harmon
Director of communication
360-438-4332
hharmon@stmartin.edu