Sure I'll forgive, if the offense wasn't too serious!

A news story in our area these days is proving one thing: When considering forgiveness, it’s difficult to get past the seriousness of the offense. 

Here’s the situation. The Supreme Court has ruled that we may not sentence juveniles to life in prison without parole anymore. Because the ruling was retroactive, some men and women serving life terms for crimes they committed as teenagers have a chance at freedom, IF the judge agrees to a lenient sentence the second time around. And that’s what is happening in Grand Rapids. A juvenile lifer will be getting a new sentence. 

And here’s where it gets sticky. The 1997 crime we’re talking about was a terrible one involving a baby. Even many progressive thinkers have a problem with freeing a person for something that heinous. 

To his credit, Kent County Circuit Judge Paul Denefeld has obviously done his homework. He discovered that the teen who committed the crime had had a terrible childhood. And, his investigation revealed that the man’s prison record is “stellar and that he has indeed been rehabilitated.” 

That makes no difference to the family of the victim, or to Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker: “This (crime) goes to a level of really serious depravity that quite frankly I don’t think anyone’s ever seen.” News stories reflect their strong opposition to freeing the accused, who is now 42 years of age and has been in prison for 21 years. 

Here’s my point. If all we desire with incarceration is punishment and retribution, the man should remain behind bars. If, however, we call it the Department of Corrections, because we expect rehabilitation and restoration, then, when such rehabilitation and restoration occurs, we should welcome that person back into society. 

LWOP, says David R. Dow in the Daily Beast: “...gives up on everyone, regardless of whether they exhibit any capacity for growth and change; it robs people of hope...” 

I so appreciate Norway’s position on this. No life without parole in Norway...a cap of 21 years, and that’s it, even for mass murderers. Rehabilitation of the offender is the goal. 

Granted, we can’t bring back the life of the baby. And that’s sad. But we might be able to save the life of a misguided juvenile who is now seeking a fresh start. And that’s good! 

I think the first step is to understand that forgiveness does not exonerate the perpetrator. Forgiveness liberates the victim. It’s a gift you give yourself. 

— T. D. Jakes

Comments

Unknown said…
It's called Department of Corrections, not the Department of Warehousing. I think some people think that when a person is sent to prison, that is the end.
February 17, 2022 at 8:50 PM
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