Sandra Pavelka, professor of political science and public administration and the founding director of the Institute for Youth and Justice Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University, received the Lois Haight Award of Excellence and Innovation from the Congressional Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus. She was honored for helping marginalized and underserved youth, including crime victims.
The award is named after a former California judge who served as the 1982 President’s Task Force on Victims of Crime chair and, as assistant attorney general, led early efforts to support crime victims’ rights. It is presented annually to someone who has significantly influenced the development and implementation of public policy on behalf of crime victims.
“Restorative justice seeks to examine the harmful impact of a crime and determine what can be done to repair that harm by involving the victim in the process, holding the wrongdoer accountable for his or her actions and engaging the community in the process,” Dr. Pavelka said.
Professor Pavelka is a graduate of the University of Florida, where she majored in political science. She holds a master of public administration degree from Florida International University and a Ph.D. in public administration from Florida Atlantic University.