Jim_Consedine

Back then, I worked as an electronic technician, and often my work was installing or repairing intercom systems in prison cells. I wondered why so many people were in those prisons. Why were so many children were denied the presence of a father in their lives? Why is our society denied the working skills of all these men, and in stead, pay many millions of dollars for the prisons and prison staff. It seemed to me that our criminal justice system was very wasteful of money and wasteful and destructive to human lives.

Now that I have the opportunity, I invite you to consider alternatives which have been proven to work in the New Zealand juvenile justice system. If you have never seen inside a juvenile detention centre, you may not ever understand why I feel so passionate about the need to make a change to our criminal justice system.

If you think Restorative Justice is just letting criminals off easy, I recommend you read more about Restorative Justice, and see for yourself what it is like.

I would prefer to have less crime, less violence and for people to be safe to go out at night. I am very concerned that so many people think harsh penalties and prison sentences will solve the problem. In fact the criminal is a person. That person has probably done something very inappropriate. The harshness of the penalties may not have been a consideration at the time the person made the choice to do what they did. Penalties may have not seemed relevant as the person may have thought they would not get caught. The person may just be resigned to the fact that a long prison term is just part of their chosen career. ( eg. the guy who answered his prison warder's question "what did you do?" with the words "I do banks" ) How about giving somebody the opportunity for a career change. I am sure the victims may feel pretty passionate about it. I invite you to give up any vindictiveness, and open up your mind to alternatives.

Some articles written by Jim Consedine

Is there are Place for Forgiveness in Restorative Justice?

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE - A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

Christian Morality, Restorative Justice and the Law

A HARSH REALITY - A MERCIFUL RESPONSE

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE – CREATIVE PEACEMAKING

DISINFECTANT CANNOT FIX CRIME

Here are a couple of Restorative Justice websites you might like to explore. I'm sure there are a lot more around. Real Justice - A US private corporation doing Restorative Justice on a big scale - www.realjustice.org The NZ one is www.restorativejustice.org.nz

My experience of restorative justice

Conducting a restorative justice conference
Bringing accountability, healing and responsibility to criminal justice processes

A newspaper article Punishment doesn't pay: priest

Also find much more by searching for restorative justice on http://google.com

The above is a sharing of my own personal experience. Your experience may well be different

Please be responsible for your interaction with any persons or organizations mentioned on this site.