Press Release

Why do we have a criminal justice system?

Just why do we have a criminal justice system? Why did dealing with criminals become taken out of the public domain and vested in the arms of the state through a criminal justice system – police, judiciary, courts and corrections? Was it really just to prevent the occasional false punishment? Was it really to prevent “an eye for an eye”?

The answer is resoundingly NO! The criminal justice system was developed to protect the weak and vulnerable – those preyed on by criminals – those who could not protect themselves. By doing this we give the weak and vulnerable in society EQUALITY. By taking the professional aspects of law and order out of the direct hands of the citizens we attempt to guarantee that everyone, including the weak and defenceless, will get the same protection at all times. This is the same principle as for universal education and health care.

By having an independent professional police force we attempt to guarantee that everyone will get protection EVEN IF we are too weak, scared or reluctant to protect ourselves. By having independent professional judiciary and courts we attempt to ensure that those who prey on us will be held to account for their actions EVEN IF we are too weak, scared or reluctant to insist on this ourselves. By having independent, professional corrections services we try to ensure that we will all have equal protection from those who would like to victimise us – EVEN IF we are too weak, scared or reluctant to do it ourselves.

Citizens can still play a major role in protecting themselves, their properties and their loved ones. The professional criminal justice sector and politicians say they can’t do it alone. They need our support – the support of the people. That is why I promote Neighbourhood Support. As our mission statement says “Neighbourhood Support aims to make our homes, streets, neighbourhoods and communities safer and more caring places in which to live by fostering contact, understanding and friendliness between neighbours”.  A laudable goal – and I know that being inclusive really works. BUT just like THEY cant do it alone, neither can WE, the citizens – it is a partnership. And in order to make that partnership work we all need to understand and remember why we have a criminal justice system.

ENDS

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