Justice

The problem with conversations about justice is how we seek it. Too often, it moves to the letter of the law, our biases and prejudices, and who has the resources to fight for it in court. Ultimately, we are not discussing justice in its purest form, but rather our particular form of justice. Justice is a series of tradeoffs. But those tradeoffs are not always fair. We don’t condemn a criminal to rape if a criminal has raped someone. Yet, we are quick to do the same for murder. A minor can be tried as an adult in some states if the crime is severe enough. Of course, the U.S. has a problem with private entities whose primary goal is profit, rather than rehabilitation, creating an incentive to keep beds full. A Judge or district attorney might say that justice is served by the letter of the law, while we can all simultaneously nod our heads in agreement that such a punishment is inhumane. I wonder if a better conversation isn’t about finding justice anymore. Since the current system doesn’t produce such outcomes, it instead focuses on how we can have a discussion around dignity for those involved. So many questions left unanswered, but the proper conversation starts here.