Campbell Law to Host Discussion on Community Violence

RALEIGH, N.C. – Campbell Law School will host a discussion on violence in local communities at the law school on Tuesday, March 26, beginning at 6 p.m. Mothers in Charge Founding Director Dorothy Johnson-Speight will discuss the cost of violence to community members, as well as needed responses from neighborhood citizens. Local advocates and family survivors of homicide victims will also participate in the conversation.

“There is no question that violence degrades the lives of victims, offenders and members of the local community,” said Campbell Law Juvenile Justice Project Director Jon Powell. “So far, the main way we have attacked violence is through the good work of law enforcement and prosecution in the judicial system, but we know we need to do more to build strong communities. We are so fortunate to have Dorothy Johnson-Speight come to Raleigh and share her experiences and wisdom about engaging the community to address the impact of crime and violence.”

Mothers in Charge aims to cultivate violence prevention, education, and intervention for youth, young adults, families and community organizations. The organization works with elected officials on legislation to support safe neighborhoods and communities for children and families, and collaborates with community and faith-based groups. For more information, visit the Mothers in Charge website at http://www.mothersincharge.org/.

“Part of our experience at Campbell Law School is engaging the local community through restorative justice,” said Powell. “Our students are learning how to facilitate dialogue in the court system between crime victims and offenders, and in our local schools between kids in conflict. The goal is to help them address how and why violent behavior occurs, how it hurts people, and how to repair the harm. Along the way, participants begin to see each other as human beings and are more willing to help others become productive members in their communities. Re-offense rates drop, conflict goes down and productivity goes up. Simply put, it works.

“We look forward to learning all we can from Ms. Johnson-Speight, and then putting into practice what we learn.”

ABOUT CAMPBELL LAW:

Since its founding in 1976, the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University has developed lawyers who possess moral conviction, social compassion and professional competence, and who view the law as a calling to serve others. The school has been recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) as having the nation’s top Professionalism Program and by the American Academy of Trial Lawyers for having the nation’s best Trial Advocacy Program. Campbell Law boasts more than 3,400 alumni, including more than 2,400 who reside and work in North Carolina. For 26 years, Campbell Law’s overall record of success on the North Carolina Bar Exam has been unsurpassed by any other North Carolina law school. In September 2009, Campbell Law relocated to a state-of-the-art building in downtown Raleigh. For more information, visit http://law.campbell.edu.

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