Rehabilitation Responsibility

Who ought to be responsible for rehabilitation?

Rehabilitation is often framed as purely a state function--something the government administers after a form of punishment through parole programs or reentry initiatives. Recent shifts in attitudes towards the CJS have emphasized a need for increased responsibility for the government to actually help the people being put through the justice system. I think that’s a good thing. But does true rehabilitation require something deeper, something that can’t be mandated by just policy?

At its core, rehabilitation is about restoration, not just for the offender, but for the community being harmed. Think about who, then, must be involved in rehabilitation: us--the community. 

The state certainly has a role. A just legal system should not just be locking people up but working towards their reintegration. Programs for education, mental health treatment, and job training are necessary steps in making rehabilitation possible. But the state is an imperfect moral agent. It can structure opportunities, and it definitely should, but it can’t compel true change. That’s why just pushing for policy is not enough to help those suffering to truly rehabilitate in the CJS. We all play a role in rehabilitation, not only as citizens, but as disciples of Christ.

Catholic social teaching emphasizes the dignity of every person, even those who the courts rule guilty. If we believe in mercy and redemption, then we must also believe in the responsibility to help people find their way back. There are limitless ways we can actively engage in rehabilitation efforts. Offering employment, housing, or education opportunities, are all large steps communities can take to help get people out of prison and into society, and I encourage you all to see if you have any local organizations that do this. I promise you, they will accept volunteers. Our role in rehabilitation does not even need to be structured, however. Being kind to someone previously incarcerated and treating them like a human being can make a large impact on recovering from their past and time in the CJS. See you next week!