The issue of mass incarceration has been a major topic of discussion for
decades. Part of the discussion is the influence on the war on drugs the sentence
disparity among certain races of people. The discussion, in part, was the narrative
Michelle Alexander discusses in her book. This student author studied the subject
as an undergrad student in the late ‘1970s. The problems mentioned in the mass
incarceration dialog was the same back then, when Ms. Alexander published her
book, as well as today. Crime at one time was generally considered an act, of
which, was caused by the individual. Nevertheless, the causes of crime can be
complicated. As studies on human behavior evolved, so have the theories of why
people commit crime. While scripture teaches that the environment has a strong
influence on a person (McQuilken and Copan 2017 , 430), Scripture also reveals
that God provides a way out of committing a crime
(1 Corinthians 10:13).
d d d d d d d d d d The prison industry is a huge profit. Granted, prisons are needed for the
hardened criminals and those who commit more serious crimes, but not everyone
needs to be imprisoned, especially those who commit minor drug possession
offenses or small crimes. Incarceration wreaks havoc on the family as well as the
prisoner. Emotional, mental health issues and problems in schools directly affects
children of incarcerated parents (Parke 2001). Consequently, 10-15 years later,
those same children grow up and as adults, have full blown mental health, anger,
relationships issues, as well as problems in the work force.
d d d d d d d d d d While Christians learn to do good, they still must seek justice, correct
oppression and bring justice (Isaiah 1:17). The Christian responsibility for criminal
justice is to help prisoners (Matthew 25:36). Jesus identified with the oppressed
and outcasts. Christians are given freewill (Revelation 22:17). However, in the
heart, man plans his own course, even when the Lord establishes his steps
(Proverbs 16:9). Jesus tells Christians that if they help prisoners, they will inherit
the kingdom (Matthew 25:36) Therefore, it is up to Christians to help and serve
one another humbly, in love (Galatians 5:13). The best way to do that is to get
involved and institute programs that will help those who are destined for prison,
as well as those who return from prison and reenter society. Churches need to
galvanize the community and implement Church sponsored programs that will
teach, instill, and reinforce ones moral formation. While the family is the birth
place of moral formation, the disruption of the family unit is one of the reasons
that crime is rampant today. There is failure in moral formation in the family
(Justice Declaration, 2021). Early training at home informs and establishes a
child’s moral compass. Churches focusing on families can help to build stronger
neighborhoods which would be a good source for moral formation.
d d d d d d d d d McQuilkin and Copan (2017) provides several alternatives to
imprisonment ranging from deprivation of privilege to corporal punishment. d One
of the alternatives that can be expanded is in the area of monetary fines or
expropriation of property (p. 436). While this alternative sounds good, thousands
of people still sit in jail because they cannot pay their bail because cash is
required. It is a start, to address the problem, but poor people cannot afford
overwhelming fees and fines (Matthews and Curiel, 2019). One of the best
alternatives is the community service assignment, especially for small crimes.
Community service assignments are great alternatives, especially for juveniles
because it allows them to give back to the community as well as teaching sound
work ethics and responsibility.
Word Count: 590
Bibliography
Justicedeclaraton.org. Responding to Crime and Incarceration: A Call to the
Church. Retrieved from https://www.prisonfellowship.org/wp-
content/uploads/2017/08/Justice-Declaration-White-Paper_FINAL.pdf
McQuilkin, Robert, and Paul Copan. 2017. An Introduction to Biblical Ethics:
Walking in the Way of Wisdom. Downer’s Grove, IL
Matthews, J. II, and Curiel, F. (2019, November 30). Criminal Justice Debt
Problems. Retrieved from
https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/publications/human_rights_magazine_ho
me/economic-justice/criminal-justice-debt-problems/
Parke, R. D., & Clarke-Stewart, K. A. (2001, December 1). The Effects of Parental
Incarceration on Young Children. Retrieved from https://aspe.hhs.gov/basic-
report/effects-parental-incarceration-young-children
