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Society can agree that when a crime is committed, punishment needs to happen. The necessity of wrong actions being corrected is paramount to maintain a safe and just society. How a person is punished is at the heart of the sentencing issue. You cannot separate who a person is from the crimes he or she may commit. Many people have lapses in judgement that can result in incarceration. Virginia CURE believes sentences should be fair and effective. Harsh sentencing laws, such as mandatory minimums, result in over incarcerating people, and destroying families. They further marginalizing poor and minority communities, do not deter crime, and cost the community millions of dollars. There are better ways to deal with crime than just locking people away. |
Virginia CURE supports any steps towards restorative justice. Restorative justice, also know as reparative justice is focused not just on the punishment of the crime; but, also the needs of the victim and helping the person who committed the crime accept responsibility for his or her actions as a means of preventing future crimes and restoring order to the community. Currently, the US has one of the highest incarceration rates because our system is focused on punitive justice/retributive justice. We have a system that believes that incapacitation helps society prevent crime, yet crime still exists. The world is changing how crimes are punished, because they are understanding the factors that explain why crimes are committed. Education, knowledge, and open conversations for justice are necessary to help our Country end mass incarceration, and prevent future crimes. |