Positive Justice and Forgiveness
By Kim Workman | February 24, 2009
“Often, different organisations are dealing with victims at different stages of their journey. Sensible Sentencing Trust and Victim Support, have their initial contact with victims shortly after the offence has been committed. Women’s Refuge often deal with people who have been regularly victimised over a period of some years. Prison Fellowship’s encounters tend to take place some years after the initial victimisation – as much as 10 – 15 years in some cases. Victim’s response to the event changes over time. Our experience is that victim’s response to offenders often changes over time – from hurt, fear and anger, to a desire to tell the offender about the harm the offender has caused. It may in time , move to a point where they want to hear the offender’s story – and consider whether they are able to forgive.
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Toward a Positive Justice
By Kim Workman | February 10, 2009
“Most people think of justice as a public legal process which is concerned with fairness and equality of rights. For others, it is mainly about the punishment of offenders, and taking revenge for harm. Yet others think in terms of restoration of relationships between victims, offenders and the wider community. In Biblical times, the words “righteousness” and “justice” had virtually identical meanings, and were used interchangeably. They conveyed the idea of righting what has gone wrong, and of restoring things to the state of “shalom” or peace. But Shalom was about more than the negative absence of conflict or violence. It was the state in which there was a positive presence of harmony and wholeness, health and prosperity, of integration and balance. In shalom, peace and justice go together.” The five stories related in Newsletter # 53, all move toward achieving the state of “shalom” within our community. It assumes that offenders continue to be part of the community, even while incarcerated, and will eventually be reintegrated into the wider community. Is this the sort of justice we should be seeking in 2009? How can we best achieve it? Or are there other kinds of justice which will provide for a better community peace? Let’s have your views.”
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Is Crime on the Increase? What Can we Do About it? - Newsletter 46
By Kim Workman | October 1, 2008
Over the next few weeks we will hear increasingly, claims by Opposition politicians and “Tough on Crime” lobbyists that crime in New Zealand is increasing? Dr Gabrielle Maxwell’s article tells us something different. Who is right? Why is it that the public prefer to listen to the media and justice advocates, rather than to experts? Let’s have your view on this issue.
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Women in Prison - Newsletter 45
By Kim Workman | September 8, 2008
Celia Lashlie makes the point that if many of the women in prison had support prior to release, they would have changed the direction of their lives, and made the firm decision not to re-offend. On her reckoning. the lives of 98 people in their immediate sphere of influence. She considers that the Corrections system are missing out on an opportunity to change lives. What do you think?
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The Children of Prisoners, the Hidden Victims of Crime - Newsletter 44
By Kim Workman | September 8, 2008
This newsletter makes a case for providing additional support to the children of prisoners, and proposes a “Bill of Rights for the Children of Incarcerated Parents”. What are your views? The Victims’ rights Act 2002, provides that any person who deals with a victim should treat that person with courtesy and compassion, and respect that persons’ dignity and privacy. Should the same obligations apply to the children of prisoners?
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