TEXAS COMPUTER STOLEN FROM RESTORATIVE JUSTICE MINISTRIES NETWORK OF NORTH AMERICA LOCAL OFFICE http://www.itemonline.com/local/local_story_160010627.html?keyword=secondarystory

Police investigates theft from networkThe Huntsville Item
The Huntsville Police Department is searching for a laptop computer stolen from the Restorative Justice Ministries Network of North America’s local office.

A midnight blue and silver Toshiba laptop was stolen from the office at 1232 Ave. J on Sunday night, along with two e-machine speakers and a USB cord for a printer.

HPD Detective Marvin Hyvl said the thieves likely stole the printer cord thinking it was the computer’s power cord.

RJMN ministry assistant Anita Parrish said the computer is desperately needed for their daily operations, since most of executive director Emmett Solomon’s contacts, research and ministry plans are located on it.

“He has all of his contact lists in there,” Parrish said. “He sends out information not just in Texas, but across the nation, keeping up with the new things in restorative justice and criminal justice. He also networks with volunteers to go in the prisons to do ministries with volunteers who work with families to try and make our communities safer places.”

The program, which has been working out of Huntsville for 13 years, has an extensive database of people, churches and organizations they have come in contact with over the years.

“That database contains information about individual churches, faith-based organizations and nonfaith-based organizations,” Parrish said. “They have some sort of interest in offenders, ex-offenders, law enforcement personnel, correctional personnel, families and victims. We try not to leave out any area that is affected by the criminal justice system.

“What we do, is maintain information on various folks and entities that can be of help to someone or to another organization. We’re a resource, we keep the information up to date and we also maintain social services information.”

If anyone has information on the stolen computer, contact Hyvl at (936) 291-5480.