The teachings of the Gospel challenge us to engage the realities of our world in ways that take us beyond the surface. As we reflect on the realities of our world today, we understand that prisons are not a place for rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Vengeance begets violence as people are condemned by the death penalty. Racial disparities are integral pieces of maintaining white supremacy through the courts, from cash bail to mandatory minimums. Corporate interests and profit are furthered through the growing presence of private prisons. As Christians working towards a more just society, we believe there is a moral imperative for the criminal justice system to serve as an agent of rehabilitation, rather than a vehicle for oppression and exploitation.
We direct our energy for criminal justice reform at two aspects of the larger system: