University Hosts National Convocation of Jail and Prison Ministry

Jun 7, 2012

The 31st annual National Convocation of Jail and Prison Ministry will take place at The University of Scranton from Sunday, June 10, to Wednesday, June 13.

Three of the conference’s events are open to the public, free of charge, including the lecture by John E. Wetzel, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, entitled “Implementing Community Justice in Pennsylvania,” on June 10 at 7 p.m. in the Pearn Auditorium of Brennan Hall.

Also, open to the public is a talk by Kirk Bloodsworth, whose case was the first capital conviction overturned as a result DNA testing in the United States. The case was overturned after Bloodsworth served nine years in prison after being sentenced to death for first-degree premeditated murder in 1984. Bloodsworth will present “Witness to Innocence” at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 11, in the Elm Park United Methodist Church, which is adjacent to the University’s campus.

The third free, public event is a performance of “We Rise,” an original play written and produced by University students with the cooperation of female inmates at Lackawanna County Prison. The performance will take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 12, in the Moskovitz Theater of the DeNaples Center.

Participants in the conference can also attend presentations by Todd Clear, Ph.D., dean of the School of Criminal Justice at Rutgers University, about “The Vision of Community Justice;” Vicki Schieber about “Restorative Justice and the Quest for Community Justice,” her personal story following the rape and murder of her daughter; and William DiMascio, executive director of Pennsylvania Prison Society, who will present “the Long March to Justice The path from Cruelty to Civility,” among others.

The University of Scranton, Marywood University and the faith communities of northeast Pennsylvania will host the convocation with support from the Scranton Area Foundation and the Greek Catholic Union of the USA.

For additional information, visit www.ncjpm.org, email NCJPM2012@scranton.edu or call Harry Dammer, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Criminal Justice Department at The University of Scranton, at 941-6170.


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