Churches recognize Mainers

AUGUSTA – Five Maine people or groups who have demonstrated leadership in restorative justice have been honored by the Maine Council of Churches.

A benefit dinner for the honorees was held Thursday in Augusta.

The Maine Council of Churches has a history of promoting restorative justice for more than 10 years and has worked closely with the Maine Department of Corrections, Maine lawmakers, police and with Maine’s religious community to offer education and support for restorative justice principles and practices.

Those honored were:

. The Hancock County Community Reparations Board, based in Ellsworth, provides community-based sentencing alternatives to offenders for certain crimes.

. Cushman Anthony of Falmouth, a lawyer and former state representative, is a member of the Community Mediation Center’s board of directors, chairman of the Judicial Branch Alternative Dispute Resolution Planning and Implementation Committee and chairman of the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission. He also works with Peace Action Maine.

. Ben Lavallee of Auburn, seriously injured as a child by a drunken driver, works with the Volunteers of America OUI program, telling drunken driving offenders his story in the hope of preventing them from becoming repeat offenders.

. Denise Giles of Augusta, director of victim services for the Maine Department of Corrections, works with community resolution teams throughout the state and runs an Impact of Crime program, allowing victims to speak to offenders.

. Edwin “Ned” P. Chester of Portland is a juvenile law attorney and advocate for restorative justice.

The Maine Council of Churches is a statewide organization with a total membership of more than 700 churches.