Restorative Justice

Repeatedly, Jesus confronted the human desire for revenge and punishment, turning his listeners instead in the direction of genuine correction, mercy, and a new life.

The churches active in the Council have agreed to pursue this direction, and we call it “restorative justice” in a policy statement available on this site.

There are many ways Christians can pursue restorative justice, from working to help victims of crimes restore their lives to visiting people in prison and helping them build new lives, and much more.

In recent years two approaches have been given the greatest focus by the Kentucky Council of Churches – the struggle to end the use of the death penalty, and efforts to invest in new lives for people who have completed their prison sentences so that they will not return to jail (reduced “recidivism”).

End the death penalty

Our goal is the end of all state executions. The Christian call to restorative justice and to honoring the image of God in every human life is sufficient reason. It is reinforced by the tragic failure of the justice system to avoid putting innocent persons on death row or to give an equal chance to every accused person regardless of economic means or race.

A partner in this work is the Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, http://www.kcadp.org This is also one of many areas where we work closely with the Catholic Conference of Kentucky.

You can help. Plan a vigil worship service and a letter to the governor for clemency, for the next time an execution is scheduled. Study this topic so you are prepared if asked for additional involvement. Pray for an end to executions.

Restore voting rights to ex-felons


Reduce recidivism

Far too many lives are harmed by cycles of imprisonment, and the KCC policy on restorative justice calls us to find and offer better paths for our fellow citizens.

Mrs. Billie Jones StocktonThe Council was honored to be invited to name a person to the Governor’s Re-Entry Task Force. Mrs. Billie Stockton, coordinator of the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington’s committee on prison ministry, agreed to serve. Billie Jones Stockton coordinates prison ministries for the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington. She is also a Licensed Psychological Practitioner in the Division of Mental Health of the Department of Corrections (Kentucky Justice Cabinet). This has been a particularly interesting time to serve because of major ongoing reforms in treatment of substance abuse issues in the corrections system.

You can help. Grow or support a prison ministry or drug abuse treatment center. Drug use and the demand for drugs are principal causes of crime and destruction.