Summary of Statement on Justice in the U.S. Criminal Legal System
As a historic peace church, Mennonite Church USA is called to resist “injustice in all forms, and in all places.” Many aspects of the current United States’ criminal legal system cause pain and suffering for many, especially poor people and people of color.
Resolution for Further Study
We as a church body commit to confronting the injustice within the current U.S. criminal legal system. There are many ways individual congregations, conferences, institutions and agencies of the denomination can participate. We will call on them to report back to the delegate body at the next biennial convention. The following are a starting place to begin this work together:
1. Learning about the injustices of the U.S. criminal legal system through conversations, book groups, guest speakers and other means
2. Speaking with, and learning from, current and former prisoners, as well as others whom the U.S. criminal legal system has harmed
3. Utilizing curricula addressing the injustices of the U.S. criminal legal system, such as those developed by Mennonite Central Committee, MC USA, and Healing Communities USA to guide local churches through discussions about the U.S. criminal legal system and ways to help those hurt by it
4. Supporting the families of those who have been incarcerated
5. Learning about how our legal system has been shaped by racist assumptions and committing to dismantle racism
6. Divesting from all private prisons, as an organization and as individuals within the church
7. Advocating for just treatment of people at all levels of the U.S. criminal legal system by petitioning representatives at every level of government to enact necessary reforms including ending cash bail, enacting policies mandating reductions in police violence, ending mandatory minimum sentencing and others
8. Continuing to call for a ban on the death penalty at the state and federal levels
9. Working for reform of the criminal legal system to promote accountability and rehabilitation
10. Seeking out alternatives to the current legal system through restorative justice practices, creating new systems of justice that reflect God’s love and care for our world
- May 2022
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