Billak to be honored at conference

CLEVELAND — Dr. Richard J. Billak, chief executive officer of the Community Corrections Association of Youngstown, will be recognized June 15 by an international organization of his colleagues for his pioneering work in the community corrections movement.

Billak will receive the International Community Corrections Association’s 2009 Arthur McDonald Leadership and Service Award at the international association’s Cleveland regional conference on mental health and criminal justice.

“Billak represents the very best of those who tirelessly strive to bring offenders back home successfully,” said Jane O’Shaughnessy, ICCA president, who will present the award.

Having been ICCA president from 1997-99, Billak was president of the Ohio Justice Alliance for Community Corrections from 1987-89 and president of the Ohio Halfway House Association in 1977-78.

Ohio Senate President Bill Harris and State Sen. Joe Schiavoni, of Canfield, D-33rd, have issued a proclamation commending Billak for his ICCA award.

McDonald was one of the founding members of ICCA, which was organized in 1964.

McDonald founded Turning Point of Central California, an agency which operates multiple facilities for adult and juvenile offenders in several cities.