Feb 7, 2014 3 min read

Scripture reading: Luke 15:11 24. Text: “‘Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?'” Ezekiel 18:23.

In certain cities, the jails are so overcrowded that the “not so dangerous” criminals are released. As we face and cope with this problem, we find a triple approach: 1. what is the most effective way to prevent crime? 2. What is the most appropriate punishment that fits the crime and will it have a positive result? And, 3. what is the best way to reeducate and rehabilitate the criminal and reintroduce him or her to society?

The punishment should fit the crime, but what will happen to the criminal?

The two extreme views of punishment are to be as merciless as possible or as lenient as possible toward the guilty. Hopefully either the crushing fear of punishment or the relief of leniency will turn the hard core criminal into a law abiding citizen. The steps in between these two extreme points are:

The retributive approach: Retribution is a seldom used word in our daily conversation and it means deserved punishment or reward. But what does the enemy of the public, menace of the society, or violator of the law deserve? Does capital punishment generate enough fear to stop a would-be murderer from carrying out his/her intention?

The punitive approach: Here the idea is that the law should be observed and whoever was found guilty should be punished. Our philosophy is, in the case of uncertainty, rather a guilty one should go free than an innocent one be punished.

The corrective approach: The issue is not anymore the crime committed or the loss, suffering, and trauma of the victim, but the future and the rehabilitation of the criminal. Is it also true that criminals should be given a second chance.

The restorative approach: The best example for this approach is the story of the prodigal son; please study our Scripture reading. The son, who repented and returned home, would have been satisfied being treated the same as one of his father’s hired servants. Instead of the prodigal son’s expectation of being treated as a hired servant; his father restored the original relationship between him and his son, and the prodigal became a beloved son again.

If the divine forgiveness, that is restoration, is close to our hearts too, then we should take seriously the other two important biblical concepts, namely sin and repentance. Sin is totally different from being legally guilty and sin is more than unfavorable influence, bad company, abused childhood, uncontrolled desire, lack of inhibition, and financial pressure. Sin in short is disobeying God, disrespecting our fellowman, or disregarding the law. Apostle Paul set the standard quite high: “. . . for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” Romans 14:23/c. Let us pray for a miracle-that there would be less people in jails and more in churches.

The Rev. Alexander Jalso is a retired United Presbyterian minister living in Ligonier.