Why Social Justice Matters in Corrections

1
Peer 1 Jerri
While privatization of the prison industry might save the state in terms of costs I believe it does not save the state in terms of face or accountability. True, private prisons are regulated (Seiter, 2014), but there is almost certainly bound to be a conflict of interest between the private industry and the mission of the criminal justice system. If the corrections industry is profiting from incarceration, how can there not be a conflict of interest? Thus, my big problem with privatization of prisons is that it presents too many opportunities for private wealth to exploit the criminal justice system’s vulnerabilities and undermine the social justice it is meant to uphold.
References
Seiter, R. P. (2014). Private prisons: Myths, realities & educational opportunities for inmates. Saint Louis University Public Law Review, 33(1), 415–428.
Peer 2 Akayla
I think the privatization of prisons is not necessarily a good thing, and I would take issue with it because of the potential conflicts of interest that can occur. While both private and state prisons are regulated and are accountable to the public (Seiter, 2014), I think there is far too much potential for corruption in terms of private prisons benefiting from incarceration. Incarceration should not be an industry in which one seeks to benefit financially—but that is what it has become. An entire industry is benefiting from another’s punishment. The case for social justice and rehabilitation here is slight.
References
Seiter, R. P. (2014). Private prisons: Myths, realities & educational opportunities for inmates. Saint Louis University Public Law Review, 33(1), 415–428.
2
Peer 1 Catherine
Changing the culture is very important because it is the culture that impacts how people look at criminal justice and what to do about issues like rehabilitation, social justice, and alternative sentencing. Restorative justice for instance can be a positive approach in alternative sentencing but the culture of the community has to be behind it for it to be implemented (Johnson et al., 2015). That requires education and lawmakers and administrators who are willing to promote this type of program. The more people in leadership positions who can get behind it the more likely it is to gain traction in the community.
References
Johnson, T., Quintana, E., Kelly, D. A., Graves, C., Schub, O., Newman, P., & Casas, C. (2015). Restorative Justice Hubs Concept Paper. Revista de Mediación, 8(2), 2340-9754.
Peer 2 Bryan
Focusing on reentry and making sure the individuals who are being released have skills that they can rely on is a great way for corrections institutions to ensure that the cause of social justice is being supported. I would even recommend restorative justice as opposed to incarceration for minor offenses because it is a way for the offender to see that he is part of a community and it is also a way for the victim to feel that justice is really being served (Johnson et al., 2015). The more that people move beyond the traditional view of incarceration as the only form of punishment that is acceptable, the more people will begin to see that community values can be instilled in offenders.
References
Johnson, T., Quintana, E., Kelly, D. A., Graves, C., Schub, O., Newman, P., & Casas, C. (2015). Restorative Justice Hubs Concept Paper. Revista de Mediación, 8(2), 2340-9754.