Through a grant funded by the North Carolina Governor’s Crime Commission, Campbell Law Professor Jon Powell is leading the initiative on restorative justice, which encourages offenders to take responsibility for harm they caused and work to make reparations with those affected (victims, families, school, etc.), often through mediation.

 

On October 17, a Teen Court training session was held at Campbell Law’s new downtown Raleigh location for approximately 40 Wake County middle and high school students interested in volunteering as attorneys, bailiffs and clerks. Additionally, local attorneys were trained to serve as mentor attorneys and several adults were trained to be exit interviewers, jury monitors, etc. Professor Powell placed Campbell Law students with Teen Court staff and volunteers for restorative justice training and a mock hearing was held to introduce the principles into the court process.

 

“Restorative justice will provide these teens the opportunity to move beyond their act of crime to examine why they offended and how to make it right,” said Professor Powell. “By addressing the root of the crime, our goal is to reduce the likelihood the teens will reoffend.”

 

Professor Powell also directs Campbell Law School’s Juvenile Justice Mediation program, which previously served Harnett, Lee and Johnston counties but now, in conjunction with the Law School’s recent move, solely serves Wake County.

 

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 3,200 alumni, including 2,200 who reside and work in North Carolina. For 21 years, Campbell Law’s 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 new state-of-the-art building in downtown Raleigh.

ReEntry, Incorporated is a community partnership with the Criminal Justice System which guides selected offenders toward responsible life choices. Incorporated as a nonprofit in Wake County in 1977, ReEntry administers Capital Area Teen Court for juveniles, Sentencing Services and Pretrial Release Services for adult offenders. For more information, visit www.capitalareateencourt.org.

 

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