Submitted by: Dan Rich

James J. Junier

Sept. 27, 1938 - Oct. 31, 2001

South Bend Tribune 11/11/2001

MISHAWAKA - James J. Junier, 63, of East Jefferson Boulevard, Mishawaka, Ind., died suddenly on Wednesday, Oct. 31, in his home. He is survived by a sister, Mary L. Giesbach; three nieces, Collette (John) Buccella, Lisa (Shaun) Jones and Celina (Carmen) Canceliere; and a sister-in-law, Millie Junier, all of whom reside in the Philadelphia, Pa., area. Mr. Junier was born the youngest of three children in Philadelphia. His younger years were spent playing sandlot baseball. After being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps, he attended LaSalle University in Philadelphia where he received his bachelor of arts in sociology and psychology. He did graduate work at the University of Notre Dame before completing his master of public affairs in criminal justice at Indiana University.

Mr. Junier worked in corrections for more than 30 years in positions as federal parole and probation officer, associate warden and correctional counselor. In 1995 he initiated the Sentencing Alternatives Project, St. Joseph County Public Defenders. He served as its director until March 1999. Mr. Junier was relentless in his pursuit to place individuals in positive alternative programs instead of incarceration. He continued to work independently as a sentencing consultant until his death.

Mr. Junier served on the board of directors of Dismas of Michiana (Dismas House). For the past 11 years he was a member of the Dismas Review Committee. In 2000 Dismas of Michiana honored Mr. Junier with the Father Jack Hickey Award for his outstanding work in the areas of social and criminal justice for Dismas House and the entire community. As a volunteer he also consulted Logan Center on criminal justice issues. Mr. Junier was an avid sportsman. He enjoyed hunting and fishing trips with his buddies. Jett, his black Labrador retriever, brought him immense joy.

To celebrate his life a memorial Mass will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 16, in St. Anthony Parish, 2308 East Jefferson Blvd., corner of Jefferson and Ironwood, in South Bend. After the service, family and friends are invited to gather at the Michiana Dismas House, located at 521 S. St. Joseph Street in South Bend. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Michiana Dismas House, P.O. Box 4571, South Bend, IN 46634.