Fire. This one is fire. “Hard truth— if you, in even the smallest of ways, support the undefined, inconsistent punishment models of western civilization, you are to blame for the next habitual offender.”
The only 'justice' in the world would be to give every single suspect that which they lack. Whatever crime they committed, if indeed they did, was done because they did not have what they were trying to gain. Peace, love, attention, safety, warmth, food......I have thoroughly educated myself on the subject of justice and the act of supposedly trying to provide it. Not only does nobody do that, nobody can. Nobody. Can. Impose. Justice. Nobody. It's an idea and justice will never be more than an idea. However unfortunate that may be it is indeed true. If you disbelieve me spend as much time as possible finding a consensus about what it is. Let me know when you have accomplished this, please. The only word that drives me more insane is 'closure'.
You spelled out so clearly what many of us try to understand and make sense of. I respect your experience with this—it's much more than I can claim. Your well written and thought-out essay makes me think about the many angles of and views on crime and incarceration than I have in many years.
Beautifully written and spot on. I appreciate how you tell us what YOU think as opposed to what WE “should” think- this is what separates you from the publications you mentioned and makes your writing so powerful.
There’s an opposite end of the spectrum that advocates for a “softer” approach, often missing the same point as their hard-nosed counterparts.
The loudest voices from either end don’t seem interested in making people BETTER, in admitting that the path to “rehabilitation” isn’t sexy, that hurting people OR enabling them to hurt themselves in the name of justice and patting yourself on the back for it is sadistic, and that we’ve not made progress in a positive direction.
The good news is that there are plenty of people in the middle who want exactly what you seem to be asking for, here. The machine is too big to care, and so it doesn’t. It can’t.
But individuals certainly CAN, and your writing proves that they DO.
You’re already doing it. Individuals start to care when they see the human consequences of the machine’s policies. When I started reading your posts, my first thought wasn’t “I wonder what he did”, but “What is the path forward?”.
For you, for your son, and for the human condition in general. Your writing- specifically the concept of “punishment vs accountability”- strengthened concepts that I’m applying in my own home, and has undoubtedly enlightened others as to the very real human impact of our current policies and social attitudes on our future as a society.
I worked very hard to help get a woman out of prison here in Oklahoma. She was incarcerated / sentenced to several years for $12 of marijuana. She had four or five young kids. Anyway, I don't want to write about all the things I did but they were in the realm of PR and they had a huge impact on her early release. I know my work was a turning point that changed things for her. The price I paid personally for this advocacy campaign was so high and painful. I retreated for years and avoided involving myself in high profile causes. I see now that this is exactly what the prince of darkness - satan - evil one - lucifer - whatever you want to call it - wanted. To crush me. Humiliate me. Wreak havoc on my life and career. Make me afraid. And sad and full of regret. All I tried to do was live out my faith and help someone. The trashing and thrashing I got...We live in a world in which no good deed goes unpunished. Justice is a much higher bar. It is restoring what is broken. Lifting up the oppressed. Confronting exploitation. Protecting the vulnerable. Treating people with dignity. This is the work of martyrs and saints. Things don't generally end well for them. Suffice to say there is very little justice in the world because people are horribly unjust. Someday, we will celebrate the release of your son and this present nightmare will end.
And that they use that label on a system that is so very broken is appropriate in a way. Justice can't be defined any better than the justice system can be supported, understood or rationalized. It is all human constructs to do a job not meant for humans. I appreciate the thought provoking writing!
Fire. This one is fire. “Hard truth— if you, in even the smallest of ways, support the undefined, inconsistent punishment models of western civilization, you are to blame for the next habitual offender.”
Not sorry for the big soapbox.
Speak truth to power!
The only 'justice' in the world would be to give every single suspect that which they lack. Whatever crime they committed, if indeed they did, was done because they did not have what they were trying to gain. Peace, love, attention, safety, warmth, food......I have thoroughly educated myself on the subject of justice and the act of supposedly trying to provide it. Not only does nobody do that, nobody can. Nobody. Can. Impose. Justice. Nobody. It's an idea and justice will never be more than an idea. However unfortunate that may be it is indeed true. If you disbelieve me spend as much time as possible finding a consensus about what it is. Let me know when you have accomplished this, please. The only word that drives me more insane is 'closure'.
Thank you! I hear every single word of this!!
You spelled out so clearly what many of us try to understand and make sense of. I respect your experience with this—it's much more than I can claim. Your well written and thought-out essay makes me think about the many angles of and views on crime and incarceration than I have in many years.
I am so glad you are here!
Thank you. Abrasive is appropriate here.
Thank you for letting me be extra. 🖤
Beautifully written and spot on. I appreciate how you tell us what YOU think as opposed to what WE “should” think- this is what separates you from the publications you mentioned and makes your writing so powerful.
There’s an opposite end of the spectrum that advocates for a “softer” approach, often missing the same point as their hard-nosed counterparts.
The loudest voices from either end don’t seem interested in making people BETTER, in admitting that the path to “rehabilitation” isn’t sexy, that hurting people OR enabling them to hurt themselves in the name of justice and patting yourself on the back for it is sadistic, and that we’ve not made progress in a positive direction.
The good news is that there are plenty of people in the middle who want exactly what you seem to be asking for, here. The machine is too big to care, and so it doesn’t. It can’t.
But individuals certainly CAN, and your writing proves that they DO.
Thank you for another inspiring piece.
We meet in the middle. I believe this with my whole being. How do we make them care??
In short- there’s no way to know.
But, in my opinion…
You’re already doing it. Individuals start to care when they see the human consequences of the machine’s policies. When I started reading your posts, my first thought wasn’t “I wonder what he did”, but “What is the path forward?”.
For you, for your son, and for the human condition in general. Your writing- specifically the concept of “punishment vs accountability”- strengthened concepts that I’m applying in my own home, and has undoubtedly enlightened others as to the very real human impact of our current policies and social attitudes on our future as a society.
Thank you for helping me 'see' what I'm doing. Your pov and presence here is so important to me.
I worked very hard to help get a woman out of prison here in Oklahoma. She was incarcerated / sentenced to several years for $12 of marijuana. She had four or five young kids. Anyway, I don't want to write about all the things I did but they were in the realm of PR and they had a huge impact on her early release. I know my work was a turning point that changed things for her. The price I paid personally for this advocacy campaign was so high and painful. I retreated for years and avoided involving myself in high profile causes. I see now that this is exactly what the prince of darkness - satan - evil one - lucifer - whatever you want to call it - wanted. To crush me. Humiliate me. Wreak havoc on my life and career. Make me afraid. And sad and full of regret. All I tried to do was live out my faith and help someone. The trashing and thrashing I got...We live in a world in which no good deed goes unpunished. Justice is a much higher bar. It is restoring what is broken. Lifting up the oppressed. Confronting exploitation. Protecting the vulnerable. Treating people with dignity. This is the work of martyrs and saints. Things don't generally end well for them. Suffice to say there is very little justice in the world because people are horribly unjust. Someday, we will celebrate the release of your son and this present nightmare will end.
So thankful for you, and the way you see the world.
This is exactly right. We've all got our pitchforks out for "justice" but can't define what the hell we're actually asking for.
Amen.
And that they use that label on a system that is so very broken is appropriate in a way. Justice can't be defined any better than the justice system can be supported, understood or rationalized. It is all human constructs to do a job not meant for humans. I appreciate the thought provoking writing!
I call it Just A System. 😉
Yes . It's so sad
I so appreciate you reading and being part of this discussion!