The U.S. Justice System considers the world in dichotomy. A person can either be guilty or not guilty, right or wrong. It fails to attend to the nuances of situations that create crime. Convicts are often the most hated person in the courtroom, but beneath their actions there is a very common story: one of being a victim themself. New models of justice reveal the significance of exploring alternative forms of justice to retributive ones. Both restorative justice and rehabilitative justice show promising signs in their abilities to rehabilitate inmates, reduce recidivism, enforce offender accountability, and ensure that the conversation prioritizes the needs and perspectives of victims. Disregarding the rights of convicts, who are the most disenfranchised and reviled members of society introduces implications for the rest of society; if the rights of the most marginalized are not protected, then no one's rights are protected.

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July 1, 2026