CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Taken from Statement of Legislative Policy dated November 14, 1987.

The objective of criminal laws and the criminal justice system should be to promote fair and equitable dealings among individuals in the society, to prevent violence and destruction, and to be restorative.  To this end, policy should deal fairly with offender, victim, and community by providing equitable and prompt adjudication, effective education, training, or treatment for those convicted, and restitution for the victims of crime.  The goal should be to return offenders to society and to protect society from violent crime.  Crime prevention programs must address the complex and pervasive causes of crime, which are often rooted in social and economic injustice.

We recommend:

effective policies and programs for prevention of and responses to juvenile delinquency and crime

full legal services provided by government for those who need but cannot afford them

reconciliation between criminal and victim whenever appropriate

investment in basic and higher education, training, drug treatment, employment development, and economic opportunities, for both crime prevention and rehabilitation of offenders

enforcement of laws against white-collar crimes, such as perjury, embezzlement, and bribery, with the same degree of vigor as the enforcement of other criminal laws

review and correction of law-enforcement and sentencing practices that result in disproportionate sentences for members of different racial, ethnic, and economic groups

using the strengths of the health and educational systems, rather than the punitive criminal justice process, for responses to and treatment of drug use

We seek abolition of capital punishment, because it violates the sacredness of human life and our belief in the human capacity for change.  This irreversible penalty cannot be applied equitably and without error.  Use of the death penalty by the state powerfully reinforces the idea that killing can be a proper way of responding to those who have wronged us.  We do not believe that reinforcement of that idea can lead to healthier and safer communities.

Friends Committee on National Legislation

245 Second Street, NE

Washington, D.C. 20002-5795