October 30, 2024
Criminal Reform is a bit of a challenge. What can be done without completely upending the justice and rehabilitation system already in place? Does everything need legalizing or, is it best to tighten the laws, increase budgets for additional policing, or pick and choose a bit of the more successful policies that exist across multiple jurristictions internationally such as Portugal (1) and Norway (2).
To be quite frank, my personal bias is to move towards the Portugese drug policy, and then the incarceration model from Norway. I beleive that while these reforms appear to be expensive, they are a better way forward in that they provide the ability to focus on outcomes in rehabilitation, and prevent pulling people out of general productive society, instead of creating a higher rate of reincarceration. I have never been overly opinionated regarding criminal reform however. It's such a difficult call, to move to change something that has very few differenciated models already tested. The lives of those effected by crime, all matter, and it is an extremely devestating thought to risk the classic victims of crimes lives on the basis of trying to change something for the sake of change. This would be my main reason for expressing a bit of aprehension.
Criminal Records and Court records may need to be an area that moves towards being more private. Limiting the information available to individuals on a decade to decade basis, rather than just to those 25 and under, would allow for further integration of those whose acute poor choices leave less limitations to employment. According to a Bloomberg coverage of the justice system from 2020, If I remember correctly, one of the major issues in the United States is reemployment after being released. It is vital that individuals that are let back into the broader community are able to find a legitimate career, and meet their basic needs with a reasonable standard of living. The issue with punishing someone for the sake of punishing them, is that it does not solve the criminal reoffense issue at all. Criminals beaten for punishment in prisions historically had lashes cut out of the prison system due to causing a higher likelihood of homicide, and violent crimes upon release. The results of criminal reform mattered, and they continue to matter just as much as further tweaks are made.
Removing media coverage of crime is an area I beleive personally is needed. It interferes in the justice system's ability to make choices that are based on legal education and the judges personal experiences, as opposed to allowing for public flogg style justice determining the outcomes of a case. The merit of evidence rather than simply impassioned plees from victims families, is unfortunately important. Criminal justice is not something that is ever appropriate to be displayed publicly. It is not appropriate to have a released incarcerated person struggle to obtain employment or undergo public backlash for existing that they would be highly unlikely to be capable of enduring. Someone commiting criminal actions already is displaying fragile mental health. That needs to be taken seriously, and the ability of the justice system to function without unnecessary stigmitization is critical to allowing for sucessful rehabilitation. The last thing that needs to occur, is to have a person be treated so poorly in public after release, that they are hardened towards others, when their experience should be most generally one that reflects their own personal friendliness to others, and good behaviour towards others. If there is an issue, yes the individual does need the ability to seek the same courts help. Where are they to go? Without the ability to have someone get the kinds of advice that are exclusively needed, I personally do not view it as safe for the general public to allow for high rates of individuals returning to the general public. If someone is dangerous enough to need TV coverage, why are they even out unmonitored, and uncared for in public? Can that person ever safely live their lives without harming more people? I do not beleive they can. If they are needing more services to allow for community living, it needs to be part of a spending package that is realistic, and thoroughly thought through. The public being informed of a criminal being released or recieving information regarding a criminal event is not beneficial to the public. Even watching policing highlights daily, viewers are left no safer, and nor are the victims that are stuck with the same safety risks that would exist without the press coverage.