Exodus 22:1-13, Luke 19:1-10

Restitution is required in each of the crime scenarios described in the Law (Exodus).  How is restitution different from retribution?  Besides restoring the animal or object, what else is restored in this process?

How does Zacchaeus’ action reflect “salvation”?  What do you think were the results of his action in relationship to his community?

There is a movement toward what is called “restorative justice”, a framework that includes restitution and community involvement in dealing with offenses.  The goal is to make restitution for the crime while also repairing the relationships that have been damaged.  In Chicago, Logan Square Neighborhood Association has been working with Kelyvn Park High School and other CPS schools to use a restorative justice model to reduce suspensions and expulsions.   Visit LSNA to learn more this important work.

For a comprehensive understanding of restorative justice, please visit http://www.restorativejustice.org, a project of Prison International Fellowship.

Psalm 130

The Psalmist expresses relief in the forgiveness of God.  His survival is dependent upon God not keeping a record of his wrongs (vs. 3).  He finds great hope in the knowledge of God’s unfailing love and overflowing redemption (vs. 7-8).   How is a person’s survival threatened when a record of one’s wrongs is maintained?  What does “redemption” look like for a person with a record?  What does love have to do with it? 

On Sunday, March 23, we learned about the FORCE project from Marlon Chamberlain.  In 2013, Illinois Governor Quinn signed a bill into law that would allow ex-offenders to seal their non-violent records.  How does a sealing bill mirror the act of God Psalm 103? 

When we refuse to see the lawbreaker as a member of the community, it is easy to marginalize them and treat them at “the outsider” or “the other”.    While the law breaker has done damage to the community, (s)he is still part of the community.  The states of Minnesota and Vermont are taking bold steps to make restoration to community a part of its crime prevention strategy.  Based on a model developed by a Mennonite pastor in Canada, “Circles of Support and Accountability” (CoSAs) connect moderately high-risk ex-offenders to non-professional community groups to help them reintegrate into the community.   In a 2013 study, it was found that only 5% of those ex-offenders who were in a CoSA group were charged with a crime between 2010 and 2013 compared with 45% of those who were not in a CoSA.   Much of the funding for these programs comes from the Second Chance Act, a bill that was signed into law by George W. Bush in 2008.  The bill provided funding to every state for programs that aided re-entry.  Rep. Danny Davis (D- IL) and Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) introduced HB 3465, the Second Chance Reauthorization Act in November 2013 and it was referred to committee.  On January 9, 2014, it was referred to a subcommittee.  Without passage of the reauthorization bill, the Act is discontinued.  You can follow this bill HERE.   To read more about the Second Chance Act, link HERE.   

Psalm 102, Psalm 10

Psalm 102 is a lament—an expression of deep anguish in the face of deep suffering.  As you read it, imagine a wrongly convicted inmate in his cell.   Then, use Psalm 10 as a prayer for those who are incarcerated wrongfully and for those who continue to be punished long after their release from prison. 

Two years ago, the US Supreme Court ruled that giving juveniles mandatory life sentences violated the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.  The ruling was based in part on brain research that shows that teenage brains are less developed than adult brains.  (A Mandatory Life Sentence means that the judge in the case was required by law to give the sentence.)  Several states, including Pennsylvania, have refused to reconsider the mandatory life sentences handed out prior to the Supreme Court ruling.  However, on Thursday, March 20, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that new sentencing hearings be held for 100 prisoners who were given mandatory life sentences when they were teenagers.  To learn more about this ruling and the controversy it has created, link HERE.  What do you think?

There is no devotional for Sunday, March 16

Proverbs 17:15 (NIV), Hebrews 13:1-3 (NSRV)

Nationally, 306 wrongfully convicted inmates have been exonerated and released from prison across the country thanks DNA evidence.  In 1986, Bennie Starks was sentenced to 60 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.  DNA evidence proving his innocence was submitted to the courts in 2000.  Unbelievably, he was not exonerated and released until 2013, having served 27 years for the crime.

The writer of Hebrews entreats us to remember those in prison as if we were in prison with them.  Try to put yourself in Bennie Starks’ shoes (as if you were in prison with him).  What would you want people outside the prison to do?  What does “remembering those in prison” look like?  Hundreds of inmates have been on a hunger strike due to conditions throughout the nation.  Consider fasting all or part of today to “remember” and show solidarity with those who are in prison. 

The Innocence Project and the Northwestern University Law School’s Center on Wrongful Convictions are two organizations working to exonerate those who are wrongfully convicted. Their web sites include the stories of many men and women who were unjustly condemned and imprisoned.  Today, pray for those who are still awaiting exoneration while in prison and for those who are working to ensure that the innocent are released.

Exodus 20:16, Deuteronomy 19:15-21

Anyone can accuse another person of a crime, but God’s law ensured that there were protections for the accused.  One person’s word was not enough.  God required full investigations in case of a dispute.  God was so concerned about false testimony that a law against it made the Top 10.  And false witnesses were dealt with severely.  In fact, in this instance, the ‘eye for an eye” mandate was to meant to discourage people from making false charges.

What protections are in place for people accused of a crime today?  We say that people are innocent until proven guilty, yet prosecutors often want to avoid trials and intimidate people to take a plea bargain.  And because poor people often end up with Public Defenders that do not have the time to adequately inform them of their rights, they often take the plea deal, losing all rights to appeal.

We all know of stories where a “victim” has accused someone of a crime only to find out later that it was not true.  Yet, even the accusation is  powerful enough to destroy people’s reputations.

How could God’s law help to rectify these scenarios?  What recourse is available for people who are falsely accused?

Exodus 23:6-9, Isaiah 5:22-24

There are dangers inherent in every system of justice.  People can make false charges.  People can try to subvert the outcome through bribery.  The innocent can be condemned and killed.

The Law and the Prophets condemn these practices as “despising the word of the Lord” and warn of God’s judgment against those who pervert justice. 

In Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, a judge received bribes from Correction Corporation of America, a private prison company.  In exchange, he sentenced juveniles to their prison for the most minor infractions, ensuring their profits.  In Chicago in the 1970s and 1980s African Americans were routinely rounded up, tortured and coerced into confessions that were later used against them in trial.  Scores of innocent people ended up wrongly convicted—11 of them were sentenced to death row.  

What other instances can you think of where justice has been perverted? 

Link HERE to a story about a man who was coerced into a confession and was sentenced to 100 years in prison for a sexual assault he did not commit.  

Genesis 39:1-23

Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and he ended up in Egypt in the house of Potiphar.  However, when Potiphar’s wife accused him of attempted rape he was placed in prison—wrongly convicted.  It is interesting that Potiphar’s wife pointed to Joseph’s ethnicity twice in her accusation.  Why do you think she did that?  Who would be more likely believed—the wife of one of Pharoah’s military officers, or the Hebrew slave?  What power did Joseph have within the justice system of Egypt?

Who in our day are most likely to have experiences similar to Joseph?  Though God was with Joseph throughout his experience and ultimately used it for good, no one should be falsely accused and wrongfully convicted and imprisoned.

Link HERE  to read the full story of Maurice Patterson, wrongfully convicted of murder in 2002.  The proof of Mr. Patterson’s innocence was always available, but no one bothered to place it into evidence—including Mr. Patterson’s court-appointed lawyer.  Mr. Patterson was finally released from prison in 2010, having served 6 years for a crime he did not commit.   What factors do you think led to Mr. Patterson’s wrongful conviction?

Titus 1:5-13

How can you tell if a Cretan is lying?  When his lips move.  That’s what one of the Cretan prophets said.  And the Apostle Paul seemed to agree.  Really?  ALL Cretans?  Every last one of them?  Statements like this lead to the creation of stereotypes which in turn lead to behaviors of mistrust and mistreatment.  Left unchallenged, stereotypes can lead to policies of institutional discrimination and marginalization.  Given the generalized beliefs about the character of Cretans, how do you think they were treated in the church?

We have a long history of creating stereotypes of ethnic and racial minorities—stereotypes that have lead to institutional discrimination both in the church and society at large.  In large part, the accepted stereotype that African-Americans males are criminals has resulted in aggressive policing of minority communities, race profiling, and an over-representation in our correctional system.  Minorities are suspected of criminal behavior long before any crime occurs.  Minorities receive harsher sentences than non-minorities for the same crime.  There are scores of high-profile cases where people of color were treated like criminals for doing nothing such as Harvard professor, Luis Gates, trying to enter his own home after locking himself out.

How have you been influenced by the stereotypes of African American males?  What other stereotypes influence how you relate to people who are different from yourself?  How can you, as a person of faith, challenge the stereotypes?

Psalm 82 – New International Version and The Message Paraphrase

In this Psalm (as paraphrased in The Message), God calls judges into God’s courtroom and calls them on the carpet.  What are the charges that God brings against the judges?  What is the consequences of their failure?  What does God propose to do to the unjust judges?

What charges do you think God would bring against those in charge of our justice system?  In what ways are our systems of “law and order” resulting in “disorder” where “the world is coming unglued”?  What can you and your faith community do to hold judges accountable?

The final prayer of Psalm 82 is “Rise up, O God, judge the earth” (NIV)  How does the image of God presiding as the Supreme Court justice over the court system make you feel?  Is this hopeful?  Why?

There is no devotional for Sunday, March 16, 2014