The goal of a criminal justice system is to make the offender better, instead in the United States offenders are coming out of prison and jail worse off than when they went in. When it comes to the subject of our criminal justice system, most we readily agree it is necessary. Where the agreement ends, however, is on the question of being our justice system working. Whereas some are convinced that we are doing everything we can, others maintain that there has to be a better way. Essentially, I am arguing that our traditional criminal justice system is not working and is costing too much money to maintain, and that we as a society can find a better way through restorative justice.
The United States has the largest prison population in the world …show more content…
These types of approaches are retributive justice and distributive justice. Retributive justice is a system of criminal justice based on the punishment of offenders rather than on rehabilitation. Retributive justice provides the mentality of lock an offender up and throw away the key. Because of this type of justice the United States has what is called the three strike rule. That rule is that if an offender commits their third felony they will be sentenced to life in prison. Distributive justice focuses on therapeutic treatment of offenders such as alcohol and drug abuse programs and domestic violence classes. Using only one type of these traditional justice systems is why our criminal justice system is not working. The system is either sending offenders to jail or prison or sending them to treatment, but are seldom used together. Only if the offender wants to seek treatment while in prison are they allowed to. “The correction arm of the American criminal justice system appears to have the distribution and administration of punishment exactly backwards” (Blinder, 2015, p.2). The United States needs to spend more time and money rehabilitating offenders rather than punishing …show more content…
They include restoration, voluntarism, neutrality, safety, accessibility, and respect. Restoration focuses on how to ensure that restorative interventions are aimed at repairing harm that was caused. Voluntarism means that anyone who chooses to participate in the restorative practices have to volunteer to be a part of it and cannot be forced to participate by any outside source. Neutrality is gained by having a mediator, usually a social worker, arrange and conduct all forms of communication to prevent prejudice. Restorative justice is accessible to anyone as long as they were affected by conflict and harm. Restorative justice aims to provide a safe and respectful setting so that the participants feel free to express feelings and views
The United States has the largest prison population in the world …show more content…
These types of approaches are retributive justice and distributive justice. Retributive justice is a system of criminal justice based on the punishment of offenders rather than on rehabilitation. Retributive justice provides the mentality of lock an offender up and throw away the key. Because of this type of justice the United States has what is called the three strike rule. That rule is that if an offender commits their third felony they will be sentenced to life in prison. Distributive justice focuses on therapeutic treatment of offenders such as alcohol and drug abuse programs and domestic violence classes. Using only one type of these traditional justice systems is why our criminal justice system is not working. The system is either sending offenders to jail or prison or sending them to treatment, but are seldom used together. Only if the offender wants to seek treatment while in prison are they allowed to. “The correction arm of the American criminal justice system appears to have the distribution and administration of punishment exactly backwards” (Blinder, 2015, p.2). The United States needs to spend more time and money rehabilitating offenders rather than punishing …show more content…
They include restoration, voluntarism, neutrality, safety, accessibility, and respect. Restoration focuses on how to ensure that restorative interventions are aimed at repairing harm that was caused. Voluntarism means that anyone who chooses to participate in the restorative practices have to volunteer to be a part of it and cannot be forced to participate by any outside source. Neutrality is gained by having a mediator, usually a social worker, arrange and conduct all forms of communication to prevent prejudice. Restorative justice is accessible to anyone as long as they were affected by conflict and harm. Restorative justice aims to provide a safe and respectful setting so that the participants feel free to express feelings and views