October 2002 Volume 83 Number 10
"serving the protectors"
| October 2002 Volume 83 Number 10 "serving the protectors" |
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ChaplaincyJustice |
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| By David Marr |
The media seem to delight in exhibiting the emotional responses of pained family members and friends of victims immediately following the sentencing of offenders. These displays often reveal raw anger, frustration or shock and show the trauma, pain and suffering that takes its toll on the lives and relationships of these people.
We hear pointed comments about the kind of justice (or the lack of it) handed out by the courts, and a lack of understanding by the judiciary. The chief justice recently declared that the general community lacked an understanding of justice and sentencing. No doubt there is truth in both views.
My mate, Gus, speaks fondly of what he calls “bush justice,” whatever that means. He gives examples from time to time, but I doubt the chief justice would approve.
This raises questions about the nature of justice and how we gained our particular view or expectations. I suspect our concepts have grown essentially from the Western Judeo/Christian traditions, with periodical adjustments made to appropriate the changing values of society, such as slavery and racism. Certainly, justice is a recurring theme of most religions and national constitutions. History shows that a number of notable movements and leaders have led the struggle toward the betterment of human life, fairness and equity.
The question of justice has increasingly come to the fore in South Australia in recent times, following some controversial court sentences. Many people have expressed disappointment at these outcomes and observed our justice system to be separate from the application of justice. Police, too, have an interest in how justice is administered and applied.
Those who have looked to our justice system for justice have found themselves increasingly disenchanted and disillusioned. They have come to learn that justice is simply a commodity to be bargained for or purchased. It often appears most readily accessible to the well connected or wealthy. Justice today is simply a business conducted and regulated by legal professionals – and seemingly to their advantage, or that of their profession.
If justice is measured in terms of fairness, consistency or equity within our community, many will feel there is an increasing lack of justice. If justice is measured by how our community treats its poor, disadvantaged, aged, vulnerable or sick, many will feel there is an increasing lack of justice. If justice is understood in our community in terms of consultation, encouragement, security, and the hope society gives to our youth, many will feel there is an increasing lack of justice. If justice is understood as creating opportunity, impartiality, consideration and the promotion of community unity, many will feel there is an increasing lack of justice.
People look to society’s leaders for more than justification for a penalty. They are looking for consistent leadership, example, fairness and assurance, but too often are given legality and precedent.
Justice is at the heart of a progressive and contented people. An unfair justice system is soul-destroying and little better than Gus’s bush justice.
Jesus angrily overthrew the money tables of those “selling” justice and referred to the bargainers as “thieves.” He continually supported the poor, disadvantaged and wronged. True justice often comes at a high cost, and monetary costs can become a formidable barrier. Perhaps those administering justice rarely have to look for it from the other side of the fence. Having to buy your way out of pain can certainly influence one’s view.
SA Police Chaplains
Welfare Section 58 David Marr 8364 3567 Senior Police Chaplain. Academy 8 Brenton Daulby 8272 8324 Adelaide: 158 Vacant Adelaide Hills Division 54 Vacant Ceduna 214 Sybil Peacock 8625 3505 Christies Beach 20 Peter Coote 8381 3039 0412 818 995 Clare 202 Michael Dutschke 8842 3681 Communications 172 David Hand 8376 5612 Elizabeth 52 Lindsay Mayes 8281 8088 Far North 210 John Folkman 8672 5011 Firearms/Records Dianna Bartlett 8337 8552 Gawler 52 Brian Tscharke 8522 2288 Glenelg 22 Vacant Henley Beach 18 Tim Kowald 8449 6868 Holden Hill 44 Rod Dyson 8365 1170 Kadina 71 Vacant Kingston 208 Vacant Mount Gambier 208 Brian Ashworth (w) 8723 1353 (h) 8725 2537 Murray Bridge 200 Malcolm Bottrill 8532 5536 Naracoorte 208 Bruce Cliff 8737 2457 0417 811 702 Norwood 60 Lynton Wade 8362 2227 0418 831 703 Nuriootpa 204 Andy Kowald 8562 1011 Port Adelaide 6 Jeff Oake 8341 5930 Port Pirie 206 Steve Ardill 8632 3977 Prosecution Services 176 Vacant Port Augusta PS 210 Mark Thomas 8642 2487 0401 671 850 Port Lincoln 214 Lester Reinbott 8683 3018 Riverland 212 Robin Zadow 8588 1540 Salisbury 53 Vacant South East Terry Natt 8571 1114 Sturt 12 Chris Beal 8278 9578 Ian Dempsey 8296 7292 Tea Tree Gully 48 Bob George 8395 9363 Thebarton Barracks 32 Vacant Transit Division Rob Packer 8332 9155 Victor Harbor Graham Rogerson (h) 8552 1718 (w) 8552 5029 Whyalla 218 Tony Redden 8649 3593
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