Criminal Justice: Traditional And Restorative Justice

Lawanda, I too can appreciate both traditional and restorative justice. Leaders in criminal justice are being confronted with the needs of expanding offender populations while grappling with depreciating budgets. Seeking a more productive and effective medium of managing offenders has led many states to focus on the use of evidence based principles within community corrections agencies with proven methods of reducing offender recidivism (CJI, 2009). Violent and career criminals need to be incapacitated from society; therefore, prisons are a necessity. The foundation of restorative justice is reintegrative shaming and is generally reserved for first time offenders. In our contemporary world justice is not swift and God’s edict admonishes
“swift” justice, which could contribute to voiding the deterrent factor of most sanctions. The scriptures clearly state that swift justice deters crime (Eccl. 8:11, Deut. 13:5, 17:7, 19:19, 21:21, 22:21; 1 Corinthians 5:13); however, even when traditional sanctions appear to be lacking, justice should be rightfully dispatched regardless.