Reading: Reintegration

Matthew 18:15-20

If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed I heaven. Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.

2 Corinthians 2:3-11

I wrote as I did so that when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you. If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent – not to put it too severely. The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven – if there was anything to forgive – I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

See also Luke 19:1-10; 2 Corinthians 1:5-11; Philemon

Reflection on reintegration

The impact of crime is much greater against the people who are victimized than it is against laws. It is no surprise, then, that the causes and effects of crime are profoundly and often devastatingly personal, both individually and socially. One of the causes and effects of crime is alienation from people and society, from loving and healthy relationships. Both offenders and victims experience this alienation and isolation caused by crime.

Often offenders are already alienated from positive relationships and from healthy society. This isolation can contribute significantly to the decision to commit wrongs. Criminal behaviour, in turn, only increases alienation, even stigmatization, from society, especially when an offender is punished by removal from society and incarceration in a correctional facility, or when the victim has been severely traumatized.

From a restorative justice perspective, this is not satisfactory. Punishment in and of itself generally does little or nothing to reduce an offender’s likelihood of re-offending after the punishment has been completed. It often enough has the opposite effect! Instead, the purpose of justice should be to help offenders find a way back to the community where they can reintegrate and succeed as members of the community.

Victims of crime also often experience alienation from others, from positive relationships and healthy society, in the wake of crime. Victims are often stigmatized – or feel they are stigmatized – because their friends and family members are afraid that they too could be harmed. As a result, victims may begin to close their connections to others and to their community.

Hence, for both offenders and victims there is a great need to reconnect successfully and healthfully with others, with their community. Reintegration is therefore one of the key values in restorative justice practices. From a restorative justice perspective, one of the primary aims of a justice response to crime should be to help those involved in and affected by crime participate again in their community in a meaningful, positive way.

This may require outside help. Reintegration programmes may include support groups for ex-offenders or for victims, and so forth. Faith communities also can foster reintegration for offenders or victims in the form of friendship, material aid, and spiritual support.

Reintegration is a value grounded firmly in the character and purposes of God, as shown in many Biblical passages, including our texts today. Rebuilding of damaged or broken relationships is a matter of both personal salvation and justice. It could indeed be argued that reintegration of sinful people – reintegration with God and with each other – is God’s great purpose in salvation history. Truly restorative justice aligns with and participates in this great purpose!

Used by permission - www.restorativejustice.org - a ministry of Prison Fellowship International