Austin film event: Meeting the Murderer

I received email notice of an upcoming Austin event featuring a film and discussion of restorative justice and in particular the sort of victim-offender dialogue described in this recent Grits post. Here are the details:

The Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty and Trinity United Methodist Church present

From Violence to Restorative Justice
A Screening of the documentary “Meeting with a Killer: One Family’s Journey”

Tuesday, May 8, 2012, 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Trinity United Methodist Church
4001 Speedway
(northeast corner of 40th and Speedway)

Join us as we watch one family’s journey to forgiveness and reconciliation following the murder of their loved one. After the screening, a discussion will be led by Ellen Halbert, the professional mediator who helped make this real-life mediation possible.

Ellen Halbert has been involved in the criminal justice system for over 25 years. In 1991, she was appointed to a six-year term on the Texas Board of Criminal Justice. She was the first victim of crime - and first female - to serve on the nine-member Board that oversees the massive criminal justice system in Texas. Ms. Halbert is presently the Director of the Victim Witness Division at the District Attorney's Office in Travis County, Texas.

Refreshments will be served.
This event is free and open to the public.
Free parking is available in the lot across the street from the church.