JUSTICE STUDIES ASSOCIATION STATEMENT ON THE DEATH PENALTY

THE JUSTICE STUDIES ASSOCIATION STANDS IN COMMUNITY

WITH ALL OF THOSE WHO OPPOSE THE DEATH PENALTY.

THE DEATH PENALTY HEALS NO WOUNDS, SOLVES NO PROBLEMS,

PREVENTS NO LIFE-TAKING, AND HONORS NEITHER THE DEAD NOR THE LIVING.

IT IS AN EXPRESSION OF POWER OVER OTHERS THAT WEAKENS

THE BONDS OF COMMUNITY, COMMODIFIES VICTIMS AND OFFENDERS, DISTORTS

THE MEANING OF JUSTICE, LEGITIMATES VIOLENCE AND RULE

BY FEAR, AND VIOLATES OUR BELIEF IN THE SACREDNESS OF EACH HUMAN BEING.

THE THREADS OF ANALYSIS, BELIEF, AND EXPERIENCE FROM WHICH

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE HAS BEEN WOVEN--

HUMANISM, FEMINISM, FAITH TRADITIONS, CRITICAL

AND PEACEMAKING CRIMINOLOGY--

ARE STRONG AND REFLECTIVE. WE ADMIT AND EMBRACE HUMAN

FRAILTY AND WEAKNESS AND

SEE, CLEAR-EYED, THE HARMS WE INFLICT UPON ONE ANOTHER. AT

THE SAME TIME, WE CELEBRATE THE POSSIBILITIES OF FORGIVENESS AND

BOTH INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION.

AS MEMBERS OF THE JUSTICE STUDIES ASSOCIATION, AN ORGANIZATION OF SCHOLARS, ACTIVISTS, PRACTITIONERS, AND OTHERS COMMITTED TO RESTORATIVE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE, IT IS OUR POSITION THAT THERE MUST BE AN IMMEDIATE MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES AND A REPEAL OF ALL DEATH PENALTY LEGISLATION WHICH MAKES STATE SANCTIONED LIFE-TAKING POSSIBLE.

Portland, Maine

June 2002