Victims of Crime Deserve Better Than Stopgap Measures

 One of the things I've struggled with a lot in prison is balancing what I know victims of crime need and the often moronic legislative and prison policies that solve nothing. When someone suffers harm at the hands of another person, that person should be held accountable. I believed this before prison, and I believe it even after 13 years in prison. But I also have a keener sense of justice now, and I know that simply locking up offenders for long periods of time does not accomplish justice. 

If I or someone I loved were a victim of crime, especially violent crime, I would want the offender punished for the harm he or she caused. But getting my pound of flesh would solve nothing. It might make me feel better temporarily, but having the state accomplish my vengeance would do nothing to address the WHY of the crime. It would not reassure victims that offenders are safe to return to society (which happens with most offenders). Yet, punishing crime is essential to maintaining order in society. We cannot let crime go unpunished.

So, how do we balance society's need to deter crime by punishing criminals with the larger needs of justice, like addressing the causes of crime? How do we ensure those who commit crimes are not returned to society as bad or worse off than they were when they committed their crimes in the first place? I don't have all the answers to this dilemma, but here are a few places to start:

1. Let victims have a greater voice in the process.
Instead of the state usurping the offense and making it about a violation of state law, let victims participate in crafting a punishment, and use the legal framework as boundaries of what punishments are allowed. Some victims would be better served by acts of restitution and repentance than long terms of incarceration. And prison sentences should be flexible enough to factor in changes in offenders (including time cuts for milestone achievements). Restitution and restoration should be the goal whenever possible, not solely incapacitation. 

2. Start offenders on a pathway of rehabilitation early in their prison term.
Instead of waiting until an offender is ready to leave prison to address their emotional issues, thinking errors, moral failures, and addiction problems, start this process early so their incarceration becomes a proving ground for change. Prison should also reinforce and reward self-directed rehabilitation.

3. Provide opportunities for offenders to address their own trauma. 
Many offenders have long histories of trauma. This is not an excuse for them turning their pain onto someone else, but addressing this trauma and helping them heal from it could go a long way to preventing future victimization. It could also result in significant reductions in addiction issues. It's not a cliche that hurt people hurt people. It's a reality. 

4. Provide education and job training that is comprehensive and multifaceted. 
It does no good to train someone how to fix plumbing and electrical problems, for example, if he fails to show up to work because he is still deep in his addictions. It also does no good to train someone how to have a legitimate job if he knows nothing about managing his finances, filing taxes, paying bills, budgeting, and living within his means. It also does no good to train someone how to fix cars if he can't get past the interview stage. Many offenders need training in basic interpersonal communication skills, which is essential for job interviews and working with others. 

These ideas are just a start. Victims of crime have to become more important to the criminal justice system. While incapacitation is important, for a time, the end goal ought to be ensuring offenders are safe enough to return to society. Our current system fails to aim for that goal, and it leaves victims in the dark about whether or not offenders are even working to change. Victims of crime deserve better than that. 

This past week, Michigan's Governor signed a bill into law allowing the parole board to keep violent offenders longer by extending the time between parole consideration. This is nothing but a bandaid meant to avoid the real problem: Michigan's prison system does little to nothing to reform its charges. That is the real travesty. That is nothing but the state multiplying the injustice victims have already experienced. Victims of crime deserve better than stopgap measures. They deserve real reform.