Issue Description
South Fulton’s prosecution system is unique as it is almost exclusively led by Black women and actively uses political engagement as the means of correction. In his article on criminal justice policy, Pratt (2018) reviews and analyzes this city’s approach to punishment allocation. The issues of correction and priority-setting within the frame of pursuing justice that the source reveals relate to the liberal perspective on crime and the due process and crime control values.
Application of Perspectives
The article exemplifies the liberal approach to the allocation of punishment. As per the conservatives’ perspective, intensified and harsher punishments are beneficial (Worrall, 2019). The liberal perspective from Chapter 2 gives the pride of place to treatment and rehabilitation whenever possible, and the story illustrates this orientation in relation to theft (Pratt, 2018; Worrall, 2019). The City of South Fulton is considering liberalizing changes to sentences for shoplifting (Pratt, 2018). For instance, the consequences of shoplifting could be limited to “attending city council meetings” rather than time in jail, thus emphasizing correction through political participation (Pratt, 2018, para. 1). This direction for change is representative of the liberal perspective.
Another relevant perspective is the due process and crime control values. Due process values discussed in Chapter 2 include benefiting suspects, maximizing freedom and protections, and providing the best means to achieve justice (Worrall, 2019). Based on the emphasis on pre-trial diversion as an alternative to jail time and the mandatory presence of public defenders, it could be argued that South Fulton’s system incorporates these values (Pratt, 2018). However, crime control values, including the system’s commitment to benefiting society, might also be present in the form of the green team program that allows some offenders to work in public parks to pay their fines (Pratt, 2018). Therefore, a mixture of values is present in the city’s approach to justice.
References
Pratt, T. (2018). An innovative approach to criminal justice reform: Put black women in charge. The Washington Post. Web.
Worrall, J. L. (2019). Crime control in America (4th ed.). Pearson.