Restorative justice programs are usually only offered to nonviolent offenders and in many cases only to juvenile offenders. Do you think it could be effective for other offenders? Why or why not? What aspects of restorative justice programs would need to change to adapt to other offenders?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Title: Expanding Restorative Justice: A Case for Including Other Offenders
Thesis Statement: Restorative justice programs have shown effectiveness in rehabilitating nonviolent and juvenile offenders, and there is potential for these programs to be equally effective for other offenders if adapted to their specific needs.
Introduction
Restorative justice has gained attention as an alternative approach to the traditional punitive justice system. This approach focuses on repairing the harm caused by criminal behavior and reintegrating offenders into the community. While restorative justice programs have primarily been offered to nonviolent and juvenile offenders, there is a growing debate about their potential effectiveness for other types of offenders, such as those convicted of violent crimes. This essay aims to explore the potential effectiveness of restorative justice for other offenders and the necessary adaptations to make these programs suitable for a wider range of offenders.
Effectiveness of Restorative Justice for Other Offenders
Restorative justice programs have demonstrated positive outcomes for nonviolent and juvenile offenders. These programs emphasize accountability, empathy, and dialogue between the offender, victim, and community. By involving all stakeholders in the process, restorative justice aims to address the root causes of criminal behavior and reduce the likelihood of reoffending.
The principles of restorative justice, including repairing harm, promoting accountability, and fostering community reintegration, can be equally beneficial for other offenders. Research has shown that many individuals who commit violent crimes have underlying trauma or unresolved issues that contribute to their behavior. By addressing these underlying factors through restorative justice practices, there is potential to facilitate rehabilitation and reduce recidivism among violent offenders.
Adapting Restorative Justice for Other Offenders
While restorative justice has proven effective for nonviolent and juvenile offenders, adapting these programs for other offenders requires careful consideration of their specific needs and challenges. One key aspect that would need to change is the level of support and supervision provided to ensure the safety of all participants. For example, in cases involving violent offenders, additional security measures and professional mediation may be necessary to facilitate constructive dialogue between the offender and the victim.
Furthermore, the scope of restorative justice programs may need to expand to include specialized therapeutic interventions tailored to the needs of different types of offenders. For instance, programs for violent offenders may incorporate anger management counseling, trauma-informed care, and psychological support to address the underlying causes of their behavior.
Conclusion
In conclusion, restorative justice programs have shown promising results in rehabilitating nonviolent and juvenile offenders. There is potential for these programs to be equally effective for other offenders if adapted to their specific needs. By addressing the underlying causes of criminal behavior and promoting accountability and community reintegration, restorative justice has the capacity to contribute to the rehabilitation of a wider range of offenders. However, implementing restorative justice for other offenders would require careful consideration of their unique challenges and the adaptation of program components to ensure safety and effectiveness. With thoughtful adjustments, restorative justice has the potential to play a significant role in transforming the rehabilitation of all types of offenders.
