St. Davids, PA: Eastern University’s College of Health and Social Sciences will host the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Justice Educators (PACJE) for a special conference March 4-5 on the St. Davids campus. The conference’s theme will be “The Politics of Justice” and will be led by plenary speakers, PA Senator Daylin Leach and civil rights attorney, Paul Hetznecker. Attendees are invited to a pizza social from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Friday March 4th. Paul Hetzenecker will begin Saturday’s events with a message at 8:30 a.m. and Senator Leach will follow with a presentation at 12:30 p.m.
The PACJE conference’s first speaker, civil rights attorney Paul Hetznecker, has defended clients in both state and federal court. After starting his career with the Defender Association of Philadelphia, he was appointed to the Special Defense Unit to work on complex, high profile cases. Outside of the courtroom, Hetzenecker fights for First Amendment rights through his work on the “Don’t Spy on Me” campaign and the First Amendment Network with the American Civil Liberties Union.
State Senator Daylin Leach will be the second to speak. In addition to being a member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, Senator Leach has led the 17th district of Pennsylvania since 2008. He has served as Minority Chairman of the Judiciary Committee since taking office in the Senate and also serves on the Appropriations, Education, Environmental Resources and Energy, Labor and Industry and State Government committees.
According to their website, the PACJE is an association dedicated to the nurturing and growth of Criminal Justice programs in academic institutions across the state. Their goal is to provide educators with new knowledge, skills or techniques that are constantly being developed through research in the field of Criminal Justice. The organization’s overall mission is to help educators become better equipped to teach their students the best and most up-to-date information about criminal justice.
In keeping with Eastern University’s mission of faith, reason, and justice, the mission of the Criminal Justice program at Eastern is to provide students with an education that is grounded in the liberal arts and prepares them for entry-level careers as well as for graduate study. Anchored in the Christian worldview, this program is driven by a restorative justice perspective that emphasizes prevention and restoration, with a commitment to human redemption on the domestic and global level.
The PACJE conference is open to the public. Registration can be done on the day of the event or by visiting pacje.org. Tickets are $60 or $30 for current students with an Eastern ID. For questions about the conference or registration, contact Director of Criminal Justice, Dr. Sheryl Van Horne, at svanhor@eastern.edu or 610-225-5683.
Eastern University is a Philadelphia Christian university of the arts and sciences located in the western suburbs of Philadelphia at 1300 Eagle Road in St. Davids, PA. Eastern enrolls approximately 3,800 students in its undergraduate, graduate, professional, urban, Seminary and international programs. Its core values of faith, reason and justice are woven into all of its educational programs. For more information visit www.eastern.edu or contact Denise McMillan, Communications Director, 610-341-4365, dmcmill@eastern.edu.
