Seton Hall’s Criminal Justice Program Hosts Panel on Prisoner Reentry

In celebration of National Criminal Justice Month, on Tuesday, March 15, at 12 p.m. in the University Center Room 210, the Seton Hall community is invited to join an informative panel discussion from Seton Hall University’s Criminal Justice Program on the topic of prisoner reentry. The panel will feature Professor John Paitakes, LaShelle White-Corley ’07, a Seton Hall alumna and social worker and James Plousis, New Jersey State Parole Board Chairman. The event is open to the public.

National Criminal Justice Month is an opportunity to reflect and consider the current state of our system of law and order and its efforts to rehabilitate former offenders. As the nation considers criminal justice reform this year, including mandatory sentencing and the most effective means to deal with minor level criminal offenses, the topic is of the upmost importance.

Paitakes brings decades of experience in the fields of probation, parole and juvenile delinquency including 29 years as a probation officer and 6 years on the New Jersey Parole Board. “Felons face major barriers during societal reintegration including: obtaining housing, securing a stable employment and finding acceptance within the community,” said Paitakes.

The panel will feature an extensive discussion of the most salient means of addressing these issues. Panel members will examine efforts such as prisoner education and vocational training to provide them with job relevant skills and counseling to promote a smoother integration into their new community, according to Paitakes.

The discussion is designed to fully inform social science and criminal justice students about the correctional system and how to effectively serve within it, including those seeking to work as probation officers or social workers. In addition, as members of the community have a duty to understand the process by which we grant former felons a second chance and how we can help assist in that process.

“I hope that all students can walk away with a greater understanding of the correctional process and greater appreciation for the importance of efforts to rehabilitate felons,” said Paitakes.

Lashelle White Corley received her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Seton Hall University. In addition to being a licensed social worker, she is also a licensed clinical drug and alcohol counselor. She has experienced working with both juvenile and adult offenders. James Plousis, is a former US Marshal for the District of New Jersey and Cape May County Sheriff. As chairman of the New Jersey Parole Board, he’s responsible for overseeing one of the state largest law enforcement agencies, which holds 36,000 parole hearings annually and supervises 16,000 offenders statewide.

For more information please contact Professor John Paitakes at (973)275-5886 or by email.

For more information on Seton Hall’s Criminal Justice Program, please see here.