Jersey City (April 4, 2006) — The Department of Criminal Justice at Saint Peter’s College will host the Sixth Annual Stephen D. Doyle Criminal Justice Conference on Thursday, April 6 at 10 a.m. in McIntyre Lounge. The theme of this year’s conference is Domestic Violence.
“This year’s conference brings together public officials, representatives from social services agencies and members from the law enforcement community to discuss their respective insights into the growing problem of domestic violence,” said Kari Larsen, a professor in the Criminal Justice Department at Saint Peter’s College.
Three speakers will discuss their experiences and perspectives on this topic in morning and afternoon sessions.
Dr. Lynn Reynolds will discuss Violence and the Battering Relationship at 10 a.m. Dr. Reynolds is the Clinical Director of the Institute Against Social Violence as well as a psychotherapist in private practice. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology with a concentration in criminal justice from Fordham University. Dr. Reynolds has lectured before several organizations, including the New Jersey Department of Corrections, New Jersey State Police Training Academy, New Jersey Violent Crimes Compensation, and the New Jersey Administration Office of the Courts – Child Support Enforcement.
New Jersey State Assemblywoman and Bergen County Freeholder Valerie Vainieri Huttle will discuss domestic violence at 11 a.m. Huttle, a resident of Englewood, is also the Vice President of Shelter Our Sisters. Shelter Our Sisters assists women and children who are victims of domestic violence, including emotional, economic, sexual and physical abuse. The agency provides emergency and transitional housing, emotional support, and a diversified continuum of services focused on safety, empowerment, and self-sufficiency. Through community partnerships, Shelter Our Sisters raises awareness, provides services, and educates community members about domestic violence.
Assistant Prosecutor Mark S. Hanna of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office will speak at 1 p.m. In this capacity, Hanna has prosecuted domestic violence cases. He serves on the Sexual Assault Victim Assistance/Domestic Violence/Child Abuse Unit. Hanna received his Bachelor’s Degree with Honors in Political Science from Lehigh University and his Juris Doctor Degree from Rutgers School of Law. Hanna previously worked as a law clerk to the Honorable Paul M. DePascale, J.S.C.
The conference is named after Stephen D. Doyle, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Saint Peter’s. The event is free and open to the general public.
Saint Peter’s College is the Jesuit College of New Jersey. Founded in 1872,
Saint Peter’s has an enrollment of approximately 3,000 students in undergraduate and graduate programs. The main campus is located in Jersey City. The College has a branch campus for adults in Englewood Cliffs, NJ and also offers courses at various corporate sites at the Jersey City waterfront and in South Amboy, NJ