Justice about more than punishment

Last week, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III wrote an op-ed calling for reforms to our criminal justice system. He wrote that as a result of our "overzealous" drug policies, "no other nation locks up more of its own people than the United States."

That is not how to live up to our motto as "the land of the free." The cost of our prison population is staggering - about $30,000 a year for each federal inmate. For 219,000 federal inmates that comes to more than $6.5 billion annually. Does anyone think we are winning the "war on drugs" with this cost?

Current policy requires lengthy sentences even for nonviolent drug offenses, and judges are often unable to take other influencing factors into consideration. Their hands are tied. As Rev. Moss says, "we should be helping our neighbors find redemption, rather than seeking retribution for what are often victimless crimes." In addition to reducing disproportionate drug sentences so men and women can re-enter society as productive citizens, we need to provide better support upon their re-entry. Justice is about much more than punishment - it is about protecting the security, dignity and flourishing of all people.

To help right our misguided sentencing policies, I join with Rev. Moss and hundreds of faith leaders across the state in calling for U.S. Senator Mark Kirk to co-sponsor S. 2123, the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act. So far, 28 members of the U.S. Senate have already signed on in support - with equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans. This bill is the right step for Illinois and for our nation, and now is the time.

Rev. Dave Buerstetta

Naperville