Criminal justice and reconciliation

'All of us… are called to find paths to a justice system which reconciles; which rejects attitudes of revenge; which helps victims to heal and offenders to turn their lives around.'
- New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, 2009

In the context of an increasingly vengeful and punitive approach towards prisoners and our criminal justice system, Caritas advocates for a criminal justice system that promotes repentance, reconciliation and restoration for wrongs committed.  This is not an easy or soft approach, but provides more hope for healing and restoration for victims, and to enable offenders to turn their lives around, than our current criminal justice system.

Caritas writes submissions on changes to the justice system, and works with like-minded organisations to promote a more fair and compassionate justice system.

• NZCBC: Revenge or Reconciliation, 2009
• Caritas' seconf submission on the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill, 2010
• Caritas submission on contract management of prisons, 2009
• Social Justice Series No. 14 - Justice and reconciliation, 2009
• NZCBC and Caritas submission on the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill ("Three Strikes Bill"), 2009