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"AN EYE FOR AN EYE LEAVES THE WHOLE WORLD BLIND."
- MAHATMA GANDHI
For generations in the US, our criminal justice system has been more of a criminal punishment system. We have the fifth highest incarceration rate in the world, recidivism rates are high, and imprisoned individuals live in dangerous, disgusting, dehumanizing conditions.
Oxford English Dictionary defines justice as “Maintenance of what is just or right by the exercise of authority or power; assignment of deserved reward or punishment; giving of due deserts.”
Mahatma Gandhi said, “An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.”
Our system currently operates on an eye for an eye basis, leaving little to no room for rehabilitation, reparation, or restoration. Without these factors, real justice is impossible.
Justice Reimagined is working to change how society defines “justice.” Through inclusive conversations, alternatives and additions to incarceration, we’re shifting focus from vengeance and punishment to reparation and healing; a world where justice has her eyes wide open.
"AN EYE FOR AN EYE LEAVES THE WHOLE WORLD BLIND."
- MAHATMA GANDHI
For generations in the US, our criminal justice system has been more of a criminal punishment system. We have the fifth highest incarceration rate in the world, recidivism rates are high, and imprisoned individuals live in dangerous, disgusting, dehumanizing conditions.
Oxford English Dictionary defines justice as “Maintenance of what is just or right by the exercise of authority or power; assignment of deserved reward or punishment; giving of due deserts.”
Mahatma Gandhi said, “An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.”
Our system currently operates on an eye for an eye basis, leaving little to no room for rehabilitation, reparation, or restoration. Without these factors, real justice is impossible.
Justice Reimagined is working to change how society defines “justice.” Through inclusive conversations, alternatives and additions to incarceration, we’re shifting focus from vengeance and punishment to reparation and healing; a world where justice has her eyes wide open.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with NBC Dateline's Dan Slepian
Dan Slepian has worked on NBC’s Dateline for almost 30 years, documenting various investigations pertaining to mass incarceration and wrongful convictions. He has used his background to disseminate stories and illuminate the truth about our criminal justice system. Dan was a Pulitzer Prize finalist and has accumulated over a dozen Emmy nominations. In his recently released book, The Sing Sing Files, Dan recounts the lives of six men who were falsely incarcerated, most notably, JJ Valasquez.
JJ was falsely incarcerated, being accused of murdering a police officer and was in prison for almost 23 years. On August 17th, 2021, JJ was granted clemency and was later exonerated on September 30th, 2024. JJ is currently an inspiring motivational speaker, media expert, and community organizer.
In this interview, we discuss the experiences of Dan and JJ navigating our incredibly flawed criminal justice system and possible solutions to such a systemic issue.