Criminal Justice

[1] For this issue of JLE, papers were invited to discuss the ethical issues involved with the U.S. criminal justice system’s current use of incarceration and the ethics involved in detention centers for immigrants. [2] The current issue publishes four papers on the topic using four different methods of ethical inquiry. The result is that […]

Introduction [1] Throwing criminals in prison is not working: the prisons are overcrowded, they are financially draining–profiting only the very wealthy–and, most importantly, prisoners are not rehabilitated to deal with society when they leave—recidivism rates are high.[1] The current retributive system places emphasis on anonymity (intentionally or unintentionally): keeping separate the offender and the victim […]

  [1] Through prison ministry, I have come to understand incarceration not merely as a legal issue but as a ministry that challenges me to practice accompaniment, advocate for justice, and recognize the image of God in people whom society often defines by their offenses. [2] When I was growing up, I was not told […]

[1] As the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has grown in scope and power since its inception in 2003, so has criticism of their brutal tactics and human rights abuses. In particular, this essay discusses the abuses involved in detention centers. These human rights abuses include allegations of unsafe conditions, overcrowding, racial abuse, and negligent […]

  [1] This issue of JLE uses four different methods to explore the ethics of punishment and incarceration. In order to encourage discussion about the issue, we have picked a quote from each essay that highlights the method used. Each quote is followed by discussion questions that a small group might engage. [2] Method One: […]

[1] After years of activism and protests, the simple statement “Black Lives Matter” became more than a hashtag or a chant. It made the leap from the streets to homes, offices, and institutions. It became part of our personal conversations and our national conversation. Even those who react negatively cannot deny it or make it […]

[1] In her recent and important book, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in an Age of Colorblindness (reviewed in this issue), attorney Michelle Alexander calls for a movement on par with the civil rights movement of the mid-twentieth century in order to overturn the damage caused by the unprecedented incarceration of large portions of […]

​[1] The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world; more people are incarcerated in this country, as a percentage of the population, than in any other nation.[1] The prison population in the U.S. has quadrupled since 1980.[2] Currently, 2.2 million people are incarcerated in prisons and jails in the U.S.[3] In terms […]

[1] The very heart of Christopher Marshall’s latest book, Compassionate Justice, explores two beloved parables in which the main characters are “moved by compassion” to show mercy and do justice. As with Beyond Retribution, Marshall eloquently juxtaposes detailed exegesis with insight into the theory and rich religious underpinnings of restorative justice in modern legal systems. […]

[1] Whenever an author’s work is reviewed by an academic peer, a measure of collegial respect and thanks should be registered. This is so because the art of the book review (when offered with integrity, sincerity and a good critical eye) advances important discussions and debates related to human survival, justice seeking and flourishing. I […]