A brief outline of the USCCB's statement Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice.

What It Is:

• A U.S. Catholic Bishops’ Reflection on Crime and Criminal Justice 
  • Concerns itself with:
    • Offenders
    • Victims
    • Community
• Provides a Catholic approach to all three

• A condemnation of the current criminal justice system (although it questions many current practices)
• A Catholic stamp of approval of the status quo (although it recognizes the need for community safety and personal responsibility)

• Three Movements
  • Describes the current situation of offenders, victims and communities with little commentary
  • Outlines a Catholic view of crime and criminal justice
  • Makes policy recommendations which reflect Catholic teaching and which challenge the problems described in the first movement
• It also provides recommendations for Catholics to become engaged in these issues (Addendum)

• "We cannot tolerate behavior that threatens the lives and violates the rights of others. . .At the same time, a Catholic approach does not give up on those who violate these laws.  We believe that both victims and offenders are children of God. . .We seek justice, not vengeance."

• Crime and the Catholic Community
  • Pastoral experience
  • Catholics play significant roles in crime prevention, police work, justice system, prisons, and even as offenders
  • Bishops consulted widely
  • Modesty and caution: a very complex issue
• Some Dimensions of Crime and Punishment in the United States
  • Victims of Crime in the United States
  • 1:27 Americans are victims of violent crime
  • 1:4 are victims of property crimes
  • 1.5 million children have parents incarcerated
  • White collar crime
• Punishment in the United States
  • 628:100,000 behind bars
  • $35 billion spent each year on corrections
• Characteristics of the Prison Population
  • African Americans are 49% of prison population but 12% of total US
  • Hispanic Americans: 19 % ---  9% total
  • 50% of inmates were under influence of drugs/alcohol at time of crime
  • 70% did not complete high school
  • 10% have some form of mental illness
• Detention of Immigrants
  • often refugees/asylees detained with felons
  • past offenders can also be detained and deported
• Offenders and Treatment
  • more cost effective
  • better results
  • reduces recidivism

• Scriptural Foundations
  • Old Testament
    • 10 Commandments
    • Restitution/Relationships need restoration
    • Covenantal relationship with God
• New Testament
  • Revenge and retribution is rejected (stoning of the adulteress)
  • Visit the imprisoned (Mt.  25)
  • Give aid to victims (Lk 10-Good Samaritan)
  • Forgiveness and mercy--compassionate parent (Lk 15-Prodigal Son)
• Sacramental and Historical Heritage
  • Eucharistic people: in community, nurtured by gifts of God’s own body and blood
  • Penance
  • Contrition
  • Confession
  • Satisfaction
  • Absolution

• Catholic Social Teaching
  • Human Life and Dignity
  • Human Rights and Responsibilities
  • Family, Community, and Participation
  • The Common Good
  • The Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
  • Subsidiarity and Solidarity

• Protecting Society
• Rejecting Simplistic Solutions
• Promoting Serious Efforts Toward Prevention and Poverty Reduction
• Challenging the Culture of Violence
• Offering Victims the Opportunity to Participate
• Encouraging Innovative Programs
• Insisting that Punishment Have a Constructive Purpose
• Making a Serious Commitment to Confront Addiction
• Placing Crime in a Community Context

• Teach Right from Wrong, Respect for Life, Forgiveness and Mercy
• Teach about abortion, challenge culture of violence, support character building groups, reduce poverty, oppose the death penalty
• Stand with Victims and their Families
• Know what’s available to victims in your community, support victim ministries, develop such ministries in your own parish
• Reach out to Offenders and their Families
• Prison ministry volunteers in the parish, help families of inmates, work on re-integrating offenders
• Build Community
• Involve the parish in the life of the community, support CCHD, support youth programs, creatively deal with offenders or potential offenders
• Advocate Policies that Offer Real Alternatives to Crime
• Learn more about the criminal justice system, join a Catholic legislative network, talk with your neighborhood police, judges, prosecutors, victims advocates, others
• Organize Diocesan Consultations
• Help convene all those involved in the system.  State Catholic Conferences are encouraged to convene state criminal justice policy makers

• A Change of Focus: Restorative justice changes the focus of our approach to crime from the criminal to the harm created by the crime.
• Victim and Community Become Central: This harm-focused approach will see the victim and the community as central actors in the resolution of the crime.
• Tough on Offender: The offender will be urged to take responsibility for the crime and, to the extent possible (depending in large measure to the type of crime, i.e., violent or non-violent, property or personal), asked to provide restitution to the victim
• New Focus for the Community: The community will seek to create the conditions where the victim receives the support he/she/they need and the offender is reintegrated into the community when possible.

• Human Dignity
• Rights and Responsibilities
• Family, Community, Participation
• Common Good
• Option for the Poor
• Subsidiarity
• Solidarity