Why do we seek justice?

Understanding the impact of our thirst for Justice

In a world moving at such a rapid pace, what will be the lesson(s) we learn from the carnage that is COVID19? What has recently happened as a result of this virus I liken to having a magnifying glass put on all of society's shortcomings then strapping them to a turbocharged rocket, launching it into the ether hoping some solutions will stick alternatively heading towards oblivion or extinction. What will result from forcing the majority of society to pause, reflect and connect? Early indications are this pandemic pause has seen people think of the issues most important to them, and how they can help make a difference. These results are now being referred to as "mass" resignation. Why? Who knows, however, I believe that people inherently want to help driven by our need to survive, a need controlled by a reptilian part of our brain. A peanut-sized component of our brain that sees humans assess everything in our vision as a threat to our lives. An inherent process that appears to be combatted by increasing an individual's comfort & convenience.

As I sit and think of everything that we have endured, global traumatisation is what ruminates in my mind. A pandemic that has a firm hand break on the "AI" era. Wait WHAT hasn't the pandemic assisted in the advancement of technology you say? yeah, sure we are able to instantly connect with people who are living in locations, in countries will probably never travel to ultimately. Whilst assessing the impact or overall net benefit for humanity, in reality? When we struggle to build communities in our own back yards, why are we looking to remotely create communities? What has been exposed in the global "lockdown" is that as humans it appears greater benefit for communities is via connecting at a micro-level. Displayed during the Pandemic, when in crisis humans have extremely predictive behaviour triggered by the amygdala. People behave stereotypically when in survival mode.

The impact of a traumatic event triggers us into survival mode, which is known as fight, flight, freeze. The impact can be best understood I believe from the research of Nadine Burke Harris (ACES) making it difficult to communicate, especially whilst in the middle of a traumatic event, impossible to adequately communicate some may even say. It is the resilience people have displayed during this pandemic achieving outcomes, previously impossible for certain cohorts, providing the evidence that anything is possible while exposing many of our current systems are obsolete;- No longer providing value in modern society.

I am sure many universities are still nervous about all of the online learning that has taken place. Australia's property sector is a cash cow any government would struggle to give up. Plus a justice system that during covid was able to introduce technology that saw people receive tablets as a cost-cutting exercise, in a new 1700 bed "correctional" facility to ensure Australia's thirst for "mass" incarceration can be accommodated. Oddly enough during the pandemic, Australia's demand for justice wained hopefully not sidetracked or paused. I have read conflicting numbers but I don't think people could argue that an and overall 10% reduction in the NSW prison population occurred during the 2020-2021 pandemic. It must be acknowledged the myriad and complexity contributing to the reasons for this 10% reduction occurred. One interesting awareness that resulted from the research, it appears people have never felt safer. So where did all the dangerous criminals go I hear you ask? or is it people who have lost the thirst for "justice"?

Justice = a palatable word for revenge

Why is it we seek justice, I can definitely understand and feel the pull towards justice if I think of someone hurting my family or friends. However in the cold hard light of day, what good will justice do me? What has already happened cannot be changed and when I seek revenge I am only perpetuating the hurt & pain that has been given to me, so if I was to seek justice, what is it I would be seeking?

Just because something has always been done, this does not mean we should blindly keep doing it, especially if the thirst for justice is perpetuating hurt, pain and misery. What is it we are trying to achieve with justice? When I choose to inflict punitive measures on someone who caused me pain indirectly, it is insane to believe this thirst for justice is not going to have a detrimental net impact on society.

So as we blindly walk down the road seeking JUSTICE this is a barbaric, violent, antiquated and obsolete solution to the problems society creates. Issues such as exclusion, disconnection, discrimination & isolation are the opposite of what we crave in a society that requires interdependence for survival. Our thirst for justice, our eye for an eye solution keep us from seeing where we are heading or understanding why the road to "mass" incarceration is a road that should be less travelled and for good reason as displayed by the punitive model in the USA, a model that believed by increasing the terms and level of punishment it would win the war on drugs whilst being tough on crime. A model that seeks to punish people in need of help support to heal, The punitive model of mass incarceration is responsible for people currently serving 30-year prison sentences, for what is now legal in many states and can be prescribed by medical professionals medicinal marijuana.

Our thirst for "JUSTICE" is barbaric in its foundation as highlighted by the theory of Justice in the quote below.

Justice means giving each person what he or she deserves or, in more traditional terms, giving each person his or her due. ... When such conflicts arise in our society, we need principles of justice that we can all accept as reasonable and fair standards for determining what people deserve.

Now if you google what is justice? A variety of different definitions are available & provide the necessary confusion to allow people to file this important issue in the too hard basket. Ultimately impacting an individual's ability to formulate an argument against the effectiveness of punishment in an attempt at modifying human behaviour. I shuddered while listening to a Justice make sentencing remarks such as this "prison must be a deterrent". So are we punishing people in the hope their behaviour will change do we think that desperate people will start to enact consequential thinking?

A person with an extensive criminal history, only highlights, the contradictory nature of such a statement. Something I would hope a Justice would understand. However, as Nadine Burke Harris has drawn attention to this should be easily identified in a Psychological presentence report. It wasn't difficult at all for me to identify as a high school educated person with a criminal record who knows all too well, that desperate people are incapable of consequential thinking if we accept that the amygdala controls - hijacks our brains under threat.

What is THE solution? Unfortunately, there is no, "A" solution.

What the fu$k I hear you say, well that's the point there is NOT one solution. So any attempt at creating, designing or building a one size fits all solution is unrealistic at conception. This is what has led people to want to abolish prison aware that reform can never work. However, prison currently being the prominent solution, it allows convenience for everyone, because of the comfort that prison provides a solution for desperate behaviour, allowing society to feel safe in the belief that people are being rehabilitated when in reality they are being traumatised and punished.

What our current justice system ensures is that we punish people who are in the most need of help, yes I am sure there is an element of society that pose enough of a relevant danger that requires some time apart from society. In reality, these are people who become so unwell it becomes a safety concern for the community and social isolation is required. However, when we treat 90% of the prison population with the same punitive model as murders, rapists and pedophiles what do we hope to achieve?

The punitive model is all throughout society, a model that sees the greater the need for help the more onerous the conditions become to access the help needed.

By understanding the pain & desperation required to not care enough or think about the consequences of certain behaviours is what is missed when an officer of the court passes judgement. A judgement made by a learned person, yet someone so far removed from the reality of the lives that they sit in judgement of, perpetuating our current class structures. A system that thrives on the concept of the echo chamber of academia, where people solve problems they don't know exist from the safety of the classrooms, boardrooms and corner offices.

Becoming solutions focused

What are some solutions to the current trajectory towards mass incarceration aware of how obsolete the criminal justice system is? One solution for mass incarceration should be, The removal of local courts, doing away with any prison sentences under 12 months, these closures can provide pathways into a variety of programs, support services that build diverse pathways into programs of healing programs that become a catalyst for change by taking personal responsibility. Utilising a proven method(s) to create safe & stable environments. Environments, where people feel safe enough to become vulnerable, by assisting people who are interested in hearing & learning about requirements to participate in the equine therapy free of judgment. As I observe. what is possible for the prison construct now that Covid19 has led the charge with the pace humans are able to adapt to change.

Impressed by the speed NSW department of Communities & Justice were able to integrate new technology. A portal to healthy behaviours that support the development of new neural pathways where such behaviours lead to new self-determined healthy ways of living when utilised appropriately.

Ultimately we must understand that punishing people who need help offers no humane benefit, that we have been sold the thirst for justice in the best interest of antiquated ideas & obsolete theories. This was evidenced by Dana Kaplan during her presentation at the 9th international criminal justice conference 2019 in Melbourne. Dana presented that when a prison is built, the community in which the prison has been built experiences a direct increase in violence, not the illusion politicians peddle that prison is creating safer communities. That the overall impact of prison provides more harm than benefit and if we do want to live and build safer communities the punitive model is barbaric, antiquated and obsolete as we now know it as a soldier for the omnipotent Justice who sits in judgment with the belief that punishing people is a model of best practice, essentially providing a one size FUCK$ all solution.

How do you ween the masses of the most addictive combination known to man? Capitalism is driven by convenience! Seriously who wants to live a less convenient life?

Hahahaha

This reminds me of the quote; If I don't prioritise my health, I will be forced to prioritise my illness. Has this pandemic and its inconvenient truths been able to force enough people to prioritise humanity inherently understanding what is required for our survival, snapping us out of the false sense of security that convenience provides?

If you want to help move from a punitive model to a healing model, what are you willing to invest?

Buy one of #otherwordz t-shirts or hoodies. Make the world a safer place, employ someone with a criminal record. Purchasing any Advocate Apparel or #otherwordz product directly employs someone with a criminal record.