By Peter Holloway2023-08-23T14:21:00
The CEO of Prison Fellowship believes that no one is beyond hope. But when heinous crimes are committed, that slogan is tested. What does justice look like when dealing with a convicted murderer? Peter Holloway explores
Our criminal justice system was established for three purposes - to punish, to rehabilitate offenders and to protect the public. Often, however, the focus of the system appears to be to determine blame (guilt) and impose punishment (pain). The more heinous the crime, the more this rule applies and the emphasis turns fully towards an offender getting what is felt to be their just deserts.
So, when we ask how society should respond when a crime is committed, we tend to ask just one question. What does the offender ‘deserve’? This is a natural human response to the pain we feel - either directly, as victims of crime, or vicariously, through feeling the grief of others.
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2023-09-04T10:34:00Z By Matthew Knell
The case of serial killers such as Lucy Letby raises hard questions about the nature of evil. There may be no neat answer, but biblical principles can provide some guidance, says Dr Matthew Knell
2022-11-01T20:46:00Z By Sam Hailes
Sentenced to death for a crime he didn’t commit, Anthony Ray Hinton spent 30 years inside an Alabamian prison waiting to be executed
2022-08-25T15:13:00Z By George Pitcher
What does Christian hope look like in the aftermath of this unspeakable tragedy, wonders George Pitcher
2024-10-23T15:42:00Z By Tim Farron MP
The US election is just weeks away, but new research suggests at least 32 million Christians won’t be voting. Tim Farron makes the case for why believers should engage in the democratic process
2024-10-22T07:12:00Z By Lois McLatchie-Miller
The conviction of Adam Smith-Connor for silent prayer inside an abortion clinic “buffer zone” marks an era-defining moment. The law needs clarifying urgently, says Lois McLatchie-Millar, before the UK’s human right’s record becomes an international laughing stock
2024-10-21T13:48:00Z By Steve Beegoo
The government is breaking the law by discriminating against private Christians schools. That’s according to The King’s School in Hampshire who are challenging Labour’s decision to introduce VAT on private school fees. Christian Concern’s Steve Beegoo explains why he’s supportive of the legal action
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