Do you believe that Resource-Based Sentencing & Supervision dilutes punishment as a deterrence to crime, since opportunities are limited or lacking in communities where some may still gain from turning to illegality? But not all crimes stem from lack of opportunities, some are a result of poor or sudden decision-making to gain advantage or from having adrenaline-rush leading to actions devoid of conscience a critical thinking in the moment; and that could be any of us. So, the answer cannot be lopsided, but the opening question is. For this episode, we continue to explore the Sentencing Funding whose Web Release event was held recently in Philadelphia, December 1, 2023. We were present and provided coverage, interviewing several of the organizers, board members, other attendees who were either benefactor, stakeholders, ex-offenders, Institutions heads etc. Today is the final part in the series. The episode will feature Rosalind Blackwell, an ex-offender who is now running her own re-entry program in Philadelphia. She makes a powerful point saying: “we can keep spending $45,000.00 per year to house in-mates or we can let Judge Sawyer not re-sentence them and send them to her re-entry program and will pay them 15/hr. in wages… I’m a testimony of what can be done [and needs to be done]," Rosalind B. And there’s no denying that. Nevertheless, there are those who still argue that those who have been victimized, by their offenders who have served their time and or got their times cut short on good behavior and are now or can now get access to opportunity and resources, may still be reeling from that victimization, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or some setbacks caused by the victimization of the crime and lack access and opportunity or worthwhile recovery of their loss. What actions are there to also improve or assist those who have suffer setbacks from crime/violence & how do we reconcile these detractions from the program?

However, every crime or violent act cannot and must not be viewed in the general and must be taken on the merits of the particular crime. So, the program towards restoring an individual through the provision of resources requires a deeper understanding of incarcerations, victimization, relative deprivation, poverty, racism and discrimination, bad policing and new discoveries in legal matters and the law, rehabilitation, and also the preservation of society. So, towards the end of the episode, we brought back the interview we did earlier with Judge Sawyer who provided more details about the weakness of sentencing and the need for resourced-based sentencing and supervision. 

Finally, I concluded that we are reminded in scriptures, that all have sinned a have fallen short; there is not one that is righteous. So, we are all in need of restoration & forgiveness. Lest we forget the golden rule, do unto others what we want others to do unto us. Hence, we must be able to move beyond ourselves & situations in order to see the bigger picture then we can truly move to social action. Importantly, justice is not just about finding fault, but also restoring both the victim and the perpetrator as both goes hand in hand. Therefore, we cannot be selfish in our pity and victimization, but must move to forgiveness as we are reminded that judge not lest ye be judge, and no man is so pure that at any point he may find himself somewhere he was not before and requires the same mercy that he had once with-held when he was the hand that held the handle. Rev. Renaldo McKenzie is an Author/Academic, Creator/Host of The Neoliberal Round Podcast, which is available anywhere you get your stream, including Anchor.fm. Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, Radio Public, Google Podcast, Podvine, the Audible, I-Heart Radio, the Alexa App, renaldocmckenzie.com, theneoliberal.com etc. Support us at https://anchor.fm/theneoliberal.com/support

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