DOING JUSTICE
STUDY GUIDE

The New York State Council of Churches is pleased to make available as an educational resource for your congregation, the background paper on Doing Justice by Virginia Mackey.  This study guide is designed to help provide context and form for its use in adult or teen study groups.  Although presented for use in three 90 minute sessions, you can adapt the material by picking and choosing for shorter or fewer sessions.  It could also be used in a retreat setting of three sessions.

Session I

*       To begin the session, hand out sheets of paper divided into six portions.  Each section will be headed with one of the following words or phrases — me, victim of child abuse, community like Littleton, murderer on death row, chaplain in a prison, a politician who must win reelection.  Ask each person in group close their eyes, envision themselves in each situation, picture God as they would in that situation and write down three words to describe their God.  Share these answers in large group, noticing  what is similar and what is different in answers.

*       How we see God affects our responses to what we experience in daily life.  Ask participants to individually write down the first word that comes to their mind when they hear the following:

        discipline                                             corrections                                     restitution
        criminal                                                prison                                            crime
        safety                                                   victim                                             court   
        police                                                   offender                                         deterrence
        prevention                                            rehabilitation                                 punishment
 

        By looking at their responses participants should be able to see in their own thinking a trend toward restorative or retributive justice.  By then sharing responses in large group, the ethos of the community will begin to become apparent.  Using this information the leader can determine the degree of education needed for the group to be ready to understand a restorative justice approach.

*       On newsprint, have each small group identify their attitudes about the following persons.  Then for each determine which of the following has most influenced their thinking:

                         Offenders                Police                     Victims                  Judges                  parents

  teachers                 media                    associates               scripture

*       Call participants back into a large group setting.  Write the word "justice" on newsprint.  Have participants call out their definitions of the word.  List in separate colors words that represent justice as commonly referred to in society and those that represent justice in scriptural terms.

*       The term scapegoat came from an old Israelite practice in which the people would put their woes on the back of a goat and chase it out of town.  Discuss in large group which of our criminal justice practices is based on a similar rationale.

*       Still in large group list in separate columns on newsprint examples of the public desire for retribution?  For safety?

*       A continuing theme in public opinion concerning criminal justice is "an eye for an eye". Continuing in large group, have someone read the Mackey paper where the background of the maxim "an eye for an eye" is discussed.  Still in large group discuss:

                -       possible ways to impart into the public debate the historical perspective of this attitude representing a shift from former more drastic retribution

                -       Recall how Jesus responded in situations where "an eye for an eye" was demanded.

Session II

*       Open the session in a large group setting.  List on board or newsprint participant answers to the following:

                -       what motivates you to do something?
                -       Then what motivates you not to do something.

        Look at the list and divide answers into categories of fear and hope -  using one colored marker for fear and another for hope.

*       Still in large group move next to consider what Luke 10 and the life of Moses, David and Saul have to say about redemption?  Discuss what these scriptural readings may have to say about deviant behavior.

*       Change the subject to what scripture has to say about social institutions.  In large group have persons report on Bible passages they find helpful when thinking about how our social institutions serve us.  List these on newsprint and find commonalities.  Then bring discussion to what we can do when these institutions fail.

*       Move into small groups to discuss the differences in how you would treat a child who misbehaved if you wanted to punish him/her.   If you wanted to discipline the child.

*       Have participants remain in small groups to discuss motivation.  

                -       First ask them to discuss role models.  Encourage participants to share how  a role model influenced them and what aspects of the role model's behavior they still pattern their life after.

                -       Then discuss motivation for change.  Have small groups think about motivation in present day criminal justice practices. On newsprint have them identify the practice with motivation by fear or hope.  Return to large group and share small group conversations.

*       Still in large group write the word "penitence" on board/newsprint.  Ask participants to define the word.  The word "penitentiary" comes from the same root.  If the original concept of penitentiary was a place to do penitence, why did this fail?  What could have been done to prevent them from becoming what they are today?

*       Before moving from large group list those who are hurting because of our criminal justice system (Be sure the list  includes the hurt of victims, offenders, the community and public servants).  Then have persons volunteer to research each category (before the next session) to determine the ways people are being hurt.

*       Have participants find someone they do not know well and discuss the impact on those personally the victim of a crime of a criminal justice system where the state assumes the role of victim (i.e. NY vs. Brown).

 Session III

*       Open in small groups with worksheets laid out as follows.   Discuss and list ways the hurts of those actually harmed help us establish a different approach to crime.  Use the following grid to list your thoughts

 Hurts                                                   Needs                                           New Responses

Victim                                                   Offender                                        Community

*       Back in large group, bring up the idea of  justice as a scales.  Draw a line vertically down the center of  a sheet of newsprint.  On the left side,  list ways the scales of justice is out of balance now.   On the right side list what group thinks should be  added to the scales of justice to balance between victim and offender.

*       Working in small groups, have participants discuss alternatives to our present form of criminal law and justice?  Then have them list of principles of a criminal justice system that caringly and effectively can help bring healing. Report these comments to large group.

*       Still in large group guide discussion toward what changes would need to be made in NYS criminal justice system if healing were its goal?  How can we work towards this?  Is it possible to divert resources from prisons to human services.

*       List the following issues on separate sheets of newsprint.  Consider responses to each issue.  Divide each sheet horizontally and label one column "what can help bring healing" and the other column "what will would continue the pain"

 death penalty                       victim rights                      prison expansion 

sentencing issues                 prison conditions              repeal of parole

law enforcement                   sexual abuse                     priorities

        Have group select from each column, what would be hardest to change attitudes about and what would be easiest.

*       Still in large group spend a brief time discussing why should people of faith be involved in matters of criminal justice?  Ask the group what strengths the church can bring to the table?  Make sure someone in the group takes notes as the group may want to use points of this discussion as they choose to be involved in matters of social change.

*       Break into small groups to discuss your own congregation.  The text asks if we can better minister to our members who have been harmed or have caused harm?  Can they give examples of either or both.   After they have discussed what is, ask them to look to the future and discuss some ways their congregation could become a safe place for those who harmed others (and their families) to talk about their pain/needs?  for those who were harmed?  Return to large group and share conversations.

*       Stay in large group and continue discussion of their congregation.  As separate questions, ask the following:  How can your congregation  better support chaplains?  members who work in the criminal justice system?  Social services or the schools?  Encourage seminaries to teach appropriate courses? Are there presently needs non-profits can be providing?  What are some ways your congregation can be helpful?

*       Develop an action plan.  List what aspects of the criminal justice system  your congregation would like to see changed.  For each list tasks that need done to work toward change, whose responsibility it is to do them and a time line for action.