In 1982, Richard R. Korn, Professor in the
Sociology Department at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY) decided it
was imperative to form an organization that would study the causes and
prevention of genocide. Working with Prof. Joseph O'Brien of the History
Department, Korn went to Simon Wiesenthal with his proposal. Wiesenthal backed
the idea and the Institute for the Study of Genocide was created in 1984. In
1987, Korn recommended to the other officers of the ISG that they invite the
present Executive Director, Dr. Helen Fein, to assume that position in the
institute.
Prof. Korn was for many years a determined penal reformer. He brought vision
and passion to all of his work. For a complete obituary by his son, Peter Korn,
please see the following website: http://www.chutzpah.org/richard/obituary.html
Orlanda Brugnola
