The United States leads the world in new incarcerations. The United States confines over 2 million individuals, the most in the world, and an increase of 500% since the 1980s (¦). 97% of federal-level convictions result from plea bargains. 94% of state criminal convictions result from plea bargains (¨). The recidivism rate in the United States is among the highest in the world with almost 44% of released criminals returning to prison within the first year out (º).
Regardless of your political or religious beliefs, it’s clear that America has a criminal justice problem. Now, you could look at these statistics, and conclude that the problem is America’s culture. And you could say that America creates criminals. But, I would argue that there is a deeper systemic flaw within the way American authorities create laws, pursue citizens, sentence convicts, and perpetrate those sentences.
Catholic Social Teaching
Life and Dignity of the Human Person (Luke 10: 25-37)
“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
The Good Samaritan ignored the cultural tensions between the Jewish and Samaritan cultures and instead saw past their differences. The Good Samaritan truly saw the inherent dignity in the man and acted on it. Such action exhibits God’s will for us to see beyond cultural, racial, or socio-economic borders. These are all man-made devices that separate us and hinder love. Through the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus directly tells us to “do likewise” and show mercy to our neighbors, everyone, including those in prison.
Solidarity (1 Corinthians 12: 12-26)
If one member suffers, all suffer. 1 Corinthians book 12, verse 13 says “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body; whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, we were all given to drink of one Spirit.” This call to unity is a transient theme across the Bible. The Bible constantly reminds us that if our society cannot save those who are oppressed or those who are in poverty, it cannot save those in power either (JFK). Although this body has many parts, we are all one. Equal in His eyes. So too is the way we must see each other. To truly replicate Jesus’ love for us, we must see ourselves within those in our community who suffer, and we must act on this.
Rights and Responsibilities (Isaiah 1: 17)
“Learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.” We must seek justice. But not a justice for the upper reaches of society. Rather, we must establish an equitable justice, one which shelters “the orphan [or] the widow” under its far-reaching tent. By caring for the least among our society, we mirror Jesus’ mission on earth. Very rarely did Jesus heal the wealthy man, or comfort a king. Rather, his works were among the poor and vulnerable. In acting as Jesus did, we must care for the lowest of our society as we must provide for those who are unable to provide for themselves.
Biblical Passages Regarding Criminal Justice
Romans 12:19 “Beloved, do not look for revenge but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and leaving justice in the hands of God. In line with Catholic teaching, which values human dignity and reconciliation, this verse encourages us to resist the urge for retaliation and instead trust in divine justice. That is not to say, however, that punishment has no place in society. Rather, our system should emphasize rehabilitation, mercy, and the possibility of redemption for offenders.
Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy”
The Church teaches that all individuals, regardless of their actions or circumstances, possess inherent dignity as children of God. Thus, in the realm of criminal justice, this verse underscores the importance of viewing offenders with compassion and addressing the root causes of crime, such as poverty, lack of education, and social inequality. Furthermore, mercy is a key component of restorative justice, which the Church heavily endorses.
Matthew 25:36 “I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
This passage preaches the importance of compassion, mercy, and solidarity for incarcerated people. The church calls for a criminal justice system that prioritizes rehabilitation, restoration, and the promotion of human dignity. The Lord calls us to recognize the humanity of prisoners and to engage in acts of compassion and support for their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being, rather than focusing solely on punishment.
The USCCB’s Stance on Criminal Justice
Additionally, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops strongly supports criminal justice reform. Inspired by Pope Francis’ comment in 2000 (“We are still a long way from… offering to those who commit crimes a way of redeeming themselves and making a positive return to society.”) the USCCB issued a pastoral statement regarding the subject.
“Just as God never abandons us, so too we must be in covenant with one another. We are all sinners, and our response to sin and failure should not be abandonment and despair, but rather justice, contrition, reparation, and return or reintegration of all into the community.” – Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice”
The bishops appeal to our shared dignity and create a sense of commonality with those in prison. We must acknowledge that we are all sinners, and that those sins do not degrade our intrinsic value or worth. Our crimes whether against God or not, no matter the gravity, can be repented and forgiven if one is truly sincere in their return to the Lord. And in the same way God forgives us, we must show mercy and forgiveness to those who have trespassed against us. We must look past the sin and see the human behind it. To ignore the dignity of a sinner would be to ignore God, as He lives within every one of us.
By no means, however, am I in opposition to any form of punishment. I believe that, along with incentives to act morally, there should be punishments for failing to act in God’s image. But, the punishment should not actively impede the restoration of the sinner. Rather, it should act as a pathway back into the light of God. It should act as a catalyst for the salvation of the sinner, not further push them from it.
A Call to Action
“Faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead… You believe in one God. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble.” (James 2: 14-26 NABRE) Here, James calls us to action. We must respond to this call and work for the greater glory of God. Through our actions, we grow closer to establishing a more equitable world where prosperity is attainable for all.
¦ – These statistics were from sentencingproject.org
¨ – These statistics were from The Atlantic
º – This statistic was from wisevoter.com
