URI and Justice Assistance, Inc. form partnership

KINGSTON, R.I. -- January 27, 2000 -- A new partnership teaming up the University of Rhode Island and a statewide human service provider should create justice for all involved.

URI and the non-profit agency Justice Assistance, Inc., located in Cranston, have joined together to provide services for citizens passing through the justice system and their reintegration into society.

The new partnership will benefit everyone. URI students will receive hands-on, real life experience, and Justice Assistance, Inc. will receive support in administering their services.

The Domestic Violence Act states that any person who pleads guilty or is found guilty of domestic violence must attend 26 weeks of classes. The classes, administered by Justice Assistance, Inc., deal with such topics as the origins of and the economic impact of domestic violence. Teachers of the class have 100 hours of training.

Through this new partnership, the Family Violence Intervention program will train URI psychology students. Upon finishing the program, students will have fulfilled the training requirement and can be hired to teach the classes.

Dr. Charles Collyer, chair of the URI Department of Psychology, sees this new partnership as a wonderful opportunity for students to receive practical experiences.

The classes on domestic violence are now taught in the Washington County area, but plans are being developed to move the classes to URI's Multicultural Center, so that the University will be fully integrated into the program.

Students are not the only members of the URI community to benefit from this partnership. The College of Psychology faculty members as well as other University faculty will be able to collaborate on research projects, studies, and have the opportunity to share information with Justice Assistance, Inc.

"We are all very, very excited about this new partnership. I think it's going to work out great for all involved, because everyone benefits from it. It is great for us to have a connection like this to the University of Rhode Island," said Jonathan Houston, Executive Director of Justice Assistance, Inc.

The partnership will be put into effect in late May, but students will not begin their involvement until the fall of 2000.

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For More Information: Jan Sawyer, 401-874-2116