FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JUSTICE CLUB WINS AWARDS AT REGIONAL MEET

DANVILLE, VA, November 17, 2006 – Four Danville Community College Justice Club (Omega Alpha

Danville Community College Justice Club (Omega Alpha Omicron) members and their club advisor show off awards won at the Region IV American Criminal Justice Association - Lambda Alpha Epsilon Conference held in West Chester, PA. Shown, left to right, are: Richard Waller, Harvie Jeter, Penny Davis, Charika Carter, and faculty advisor John Wilt, Associate Professor of Administration of Justice.

 Omicron chapter) members and their sponsor recently returned from the Region IV American Criminal Justice Association (ACJA) conference in West Chester, PA, where they scored top honors in several events. The students, Penny Davis of Ringgold, Harvie Jeter of Gretna, Charika Carter of Danville, and Richard Waller of Sandy Level, along with club advisor John Wilt, Associate Professor of Administration of Justice, brought home two first place and three second place awards.

The American Criminal Justice Association, founded in 1937, is comprised of persons employed in the criminal justice system and those studying criminal justice at an accredited college or university. The DCC group competed against their peers from more than 50 chapters in 13 states and the District of Columbia at the Region IV Conference which featured the theme, “Victimology.” Region IV is the largest of the ACJA regions.

Jeter achieved first place honors in the “Individual Firearms” competition (Lower Division) and a second place award in the “Firearms Team” competition (Lower Division). Also Jeter, along with Davis and Waller, captured second place honors in the “Crime Scene Team” competition (Lower Division). Professor Wilt, who also serves as President of the Region IV ACJA, triumphed as the first place winner in the “Crime Scene Team” competition (Professional Division) and was the second place winner in “Physical Agility” (Professional Division).

“When a student gets a competition award, that is significant in their progress in the criminal justice field,” says Wilt. “That’s something they can put on their resume, and it’s also a personal achievement for them.”

Wilt explains that first place winner Jeter received 443 points out of a total of 480 in the firearms competition. He was only two points away from the “top gun” at the conference, a police officer scoring 445 points. Wilt says that this is the first time any of the DCC Justice Club members have ever won a first place firearms award at a competition in recent years.

“He actually blew the center out of the target,” says Wilt excitedly. “He mostly got tens, but had to re-shoot because nine rounds couldn’t be found.” He adds that Jeter only had one target positioned at different yards, but if they had known that he was such a perfect sharpshooter, they would have increased his targets.

Wilt was also thrilled that his students won second place in the “Crime Scene Team” competition.

“They gave everyone a scenario where they had to find evidence and write up a report. They were graded on the evidence they identified in the room and on what they thought happened in the crime,” Wilt says.

Wilt explains that participants could only have a tablet of paper and were allowed 15 minutes in the scenario room to find the evidence (such as paraphernalia under the mattress). They also had only 45 minutes to do a rough sketch of the room and its belongings. From the evidence, they were to unravel the crime.

In addition to the competitions, the conference also featured lectures by FBI Agent Ray Carr and author Debra Puglisi Sharp, who wrote “Shattered: Reclaiming a Life Torn Apart by Violence,” her story as a rape survivor who was held captive for more than 101 hours.

“I’d rate the trip and conference as one of the most enjoyable I’ve ever been to, and I’ve been to many conferences,” says Wilt, who adds the DCC chapter is already making plans to attend the 70^th national conference to be held March 2007 in Wilmington, DE.

For more information about DCC’s Administration of Justice program, contact John Wilt at 434.797.8468, or click here.