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A Call for New Criminal Justice Values

Rizer, Arthur

Who are we? Ever since we could ponder such a question, we have looked to philosophers, theologians, and scientists for answers. And yet, maybe we don't need to apprehend the heavens or dissect the atom to understand our inner nature. Maybe the answer is simpler: we are what we value.

Accordingly, this paper seeks to answer the question: what does American criminal justice reveal about what we value and who we are? I first explain why our criminal justice values are so intertwined with our identity. I then briefly discuss the historical backdrop of the current values underlying criminal justice. And finally, I provide a revised set of values and argue that they better reflect who we are today.

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More About This Work

Academic Units
Justice Lab
Publisher
The Square One Project
Series
Executive Session on the Future of Justice Policy
Published Here
March 4, 2019