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August 2008
August 4-8, 2008
Conflict Management and Mediation Training offered by Fresno
Pacific University
Location: MB Biblical Seminary Campus, Fresno
Time: 8:30am to 4pm each day
Fresno University’s Center for Peacemaking & Conflict Studies offers
this course to professionals who wish to a skills for resolving conflict. Drawing
from the social sciences and Biblical examples, theory, methods and practical
skills in listening and mediation are included. Graduate, CEU or MCLE credit
is available.
Registration
information >>
Learn about
the Center for Peacemaking & Conflict Studies >>
August 3-5, 2008
Building Bridges: The Annual Conference of the National Association
of Sentencing Commissions
Location: San Francisco, CA
Every year the NASC Conference 
brings
together hundreds of judges, legislators, academics and policymakers from around
the country to examine our nation's experiences with sentencing laws and practices,
and to identify emerging issues and innovations. This year's NASC conference
is an invitation for sentencing commissions, commissioners, staff, and partners
to consider what it means to build bridges between sentencing philosophy, policy,
and performance, and to contemplate their roles in constructing those bridges
in San Francisco, one of the nation's most exciting cities.
July 2008
July 28-31, 2008
Renewing Hope, Seeking Justice: National Migration Conference
Location: Washington, DC
Would you like to learn more about the issues and services that impact immigrants,
migrants, refugees, human trafficking victims, and other people on the move?
This conference, co-sponsored by the Catholic Legal Immigration Network and
Migration and Refugee Services, offers a variety of workshops and speakers,
an exciting day of advocacy, and multiple networking opportunities.
Learn more about the conference >>
June 2008
June 16-20 or July 21-25, 2008
Classroom Conflict Management & Peer Mediation Training
Location: Fresno Pacific University, Fresno, CA
Time: 8:30am to 4pm each day
The Center for Peacemaking & Conflict Studies offers training for teachers,
administrators and school counselors that will increase cooperation and reduce
power struggles in school settings.
Registration
information >>
Learn about
the Center for Peacemaking & Conflict Studies >>
May 2008
May 12-15, 2008
Victim/Offender Education Group (VOEG) training
Location: San Francisco Theological Seminary, San Anselmo and San Quentin
The Insight Prison Project is offering a four-day intensive training for professionals
who want to learn how to facilitate the Victim Offender Education Group (VOEG)
program. Pioneered at San Quentin State Prison, this 22-week program for prisoners
teaches them to understand themselves better, how their life experiences and
decisions led them to prison, and how their crimes have impacted their victim(s),
their families, their communities and themselves. CEUs available. Cost: $1,000.
Registration deposit of $150 due on April 1. Contact Rochelle Edwards, 415-419-3586, rochelle@insightprisonproject.org for
information and registration.
Learn about the Insight Prison Project >>
May 9, 2008
Mother’s Day visits planned for children of the incarcerated
Each year Get On The Bus marks Mother’s Day and Father’s Day by
organizing visits for children with parents in prison. In 2007, Get On The
Bus brought 39 buses with more than 800 children, 400 caregivers and 200 volunteers
to seven prisons in California. In 2008, Get On The Bus will be expanding to
47 buses, reuniting even more children with their parents. Buses from various
cities in California will go to the following prisons on May 9:
California Institution for Women (CIW) – Corona, CA
Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) – Chowchilla, CA
Valley State Prison for Women (VSPW) – Chowchilla, CA
Ventura Youth Correctional Facility (VYCF) – Camarillo, CA
May 5 to June 13, 2008
Eastern Mennonite University offers four sessions at the
Summer Peacebuilding Institute
Location: 1200 Park Road, Harrisonburg, VA 22802
Howard Zehr, a leader in the restorative justice movement, will be offering
courses during the summer. Some of the offerings include “Restorative
Justice: The Promise, the Challenge” and “Real World Restorative
Justice: What Are We Learning from the Field?” Many other valuable classes
by peacemaking and mediation leaders as also offered.
The Center for Justice & Peacebuilding equips and sustains individuals
and institutions to work for justice and peace through education, training,
practice and research.
Learn more >>
April 2008
April 24, 2008
Death Penalty Focus Annual Awards Dinner
Location: Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel, 9500 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills,
CA
The 17th annual DPF awards dinner this year honors John Grisham and Julian
Bond.
April 23-25, 2008
Victim Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP) Training Offered
Location: Fresno Pacific University
A unique seminar for individuals and communities interested in starting a reconciliation
program in their area. Ron Claassen, founder of the Fresno VORP and other VORP
staff will lead the seminar.
Register >>
Learn about the Center for Peacemaking & Conflict Studies >>
April 22, 2008
Catholic Lobby Day in Sacramento
Time: 9am – 4pm
Location: Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, 11th & K Streets
For the tenth consecutive year, the California Catholic Conference is hosting
Catholics from all over California who are interested in exercising their "faithful
citizenship" in their state’s Capital. This will be a perfect opportunity
to make sure restorative justices issues stay on the agenda in California.
Registration and information >>
April 13-19, 2008
National Crime Victims Week
Rallies, candlelight vigils, and a host of commemorative activities are held
each year to promote victims' rights and to honor crime victims and those who
advocate on their behalf. Join in the activities!
Learn
more about the Week >>
Download
a resource guide >>
Learn
about activities scheduled in California >>
March 2008
March 28-30, 2008 - Santa
Clara, CA
2008 Innocence Network Conference
Location: Santa Clara University School of Law
Hosted by the Northern California Innocence Project, the 2008 Innocence Network
Conference is open to the public, as well as exonerees, Innocence Network members,
public interest attorneys, law students and undergraduate students. Contact
Amy Kennedy at aekennedy@scu.edu or
(408) 554-1945 x6189.
More information >>
March 28, 2008
Stand Up for Justice Benefit with Paula Poundstone
Location: Cobb’s Comedy Club, 915 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA
Time: TBA
The 3rd annual fundraiser for Death Penalty Focus.
Third death penalty hearing by CCFAJ to be held in Santa Clara,
CA
Location: Santa Clara University
The California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice will hold its
third and final public hearing on issues surrounding the fair administration
of the death penalty in California. Invited witnesses will include representatives
of victims’ organizations and advocacy groups concerned with the fairness
of California’s death penalty law.
Learn about the commission
and its reports >>
March 21, 2008
Workshop on Human Contact Deprivation
Location: Sacred Heart Parish, 337 Ottawa Street, Joliet, IL
Time: 11am to 4pm
A one-day conference hosted by the Peace and Social Justice Ministry of the
Diocese of Joliet. People who have experienced this deprivation—the incarcerated,
victims of crime and family members of both groups—are members of our
parishes, neighborhoods, community, students in our classrooms. This event
will be informative and helpful in understanding and assisting those around
us experiencing this reality.
For more information or to register, call 815-834-4028.
March 15, 2008
One day symposium on California’s correctional crisis
Location: University of San Francisco School of Law – Law Review
This gathering, aptly named “Confronting the Crisis,” will review
the current federal litigation related to overcrowding, the state legislature’s
response to the crisis and discussion of the reforms that will most effectively
and appropriately reduce California’s prison population. March 10 is
the pre-registration deadline.
Register
or learn more >>
May 12-15, 2008
Victim/Offender Education Group (VOEG) training
Location: San Francisco Theological Seminary, San Anselmo and San Quentin
The Insight Prison Project is offering a four-day intensive training for professionals
who want to learn how to facilitate the Victim Offender Education Group (VOEG)
program. Pioneered at San Quentin State Prison, this 22-week program for prisoners
teaches them to understand themselves better, how their life experiences and
decisions led them to prison, and how their crimes have impacted their victim(s),
their families, their communities and themselves. CEUs available. Cost: $1,000.
Registration deposit of $150 due on April 1. Contact Rochelle Edwards, 415-419-3586, rochelle@insightprisonproject.org for
information and registration.
Learn
about the Insight Prison Project >>
March 1, 2008
11th annual prayer service to end the death penalty
Time: Noon
Location: Religious Education Congress, Anaheim Convention Center, main entrance
Join bishops, clergy, and lay people in prayer and reflection. Participants
will gather on the grass outside the main entrance (on Katella) to the Anaheim
Convention Center at noon to pray with Congress attendees during their lunch
hour. For more information, contact: Jan Urban 714-879-7663.
February 2008
February 22-24, 2008
Juvenile Justice Sabbath
Faith Communities for Families and Children (FCFC) invites you to raise awareness
in your parish about the needs of incarcerated children and their families
with prayer, service or action. FCFC is a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, economically
diverse coalition of faith based organizations that provide support for and
advocate on behalf of children and families involved in Los Angeles County
and California’s juvenile justice system.
Learn about Juvenile Justice Sabbath and FCFC >>
January 2008
January 25, 2008
Rights, Needs, Power: The Victim in Criminal Justice
Location: Stanford Law School, Room 190
Time: 8:30am – 6:30pm
This Symposium will explore emerging and evolving issues for victims of crime,
including:
• Victims’ voices in mass violence prosecutions
• The central role of victims’ needs in Restorative Justice practices
• Victims’ Rights Amendments and the current state of Victims’ Rights
Law
• The effect of mandatory arrest policies on victim autonomy and safety
in domestic violence cases
January 17-20, 2008
National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty annual conference
Location: San Jose Holiday Inn, 1740 N. 1st Street, San Jose, CA
Time to register for this annual nationwide gathering of anti-death penalty
activists. The 2008 conference theme is “Reaching for the Dream.” Workshops,
speakers and breakout sessions will offer new ideas, new arguments, new strategies
and ideas for building alliances with new constituencies that will help us
in reach “the Dream.”
Conference details and registration >>
January 14-18, 2008 and February
25-29, 2008
Bartimaeus Institute offers justice studies
Location: Santa Barbara, CA and Oak View, CA
Mid-winter opportunities for pastors, organizers and students for intensive
study of scripture and social justice on the beautiful central California coast.
Space is limited, so register before December 14, 2007.
More
information and registration >>
January 10, 2008
Public hearings on the death penalty
Location: State Capitol Building, Room 4203, Sacramento, CA
Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm (tentative)
The California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice (CCFAJ will
hold the first of three public hearings on the death penalty at the state capitol.
Hearings will address the flaws in California’s death penalty system.
Death Penalty Focus is encouraging the public to attend the hearings to show
the commissioners and the media that a growing number of Californians reject
the death penalty as a solution to crime and violence. CCFAJ was created by
the state senate in 2004 and will make recommendations to the governor and
legislature in June 2008.