Justice That Restores (Hardcover)

~ Charles Colson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Ostensibly about the justice system, this book is in large part a rehash of the decades-old culture war between the Left and the Right, in which Colson argues that almost all left-of-center assumptions about humanity and God are wrong and dangerous, and that those of the Christian Right are correct. Rife with false dilemmas (e.g., individuals are to blame for crime; their environment is not), Colson's arguments are puzzling, since he targets an audience of evangelicals who are already on his side. More confusing is the fact that in his last few chapters, Colson reveals his support for prison reform initiatives of both the Left and the Right, and in doing so occasionally contradicts himself. For example, after repeatedly bemoaning the futility of therapy as a tool for rehabilitation, he ends the book by praising several programs that have strong therapeutic components. In addition, after arguing that the rising prison population is a valid indicator of a culture increasingly prone to "coarse crimes," he later agrees with scholars who say that only a small minority of inmates are serious criminals. While Colson never fully acknowledges that he agrees with liberal thinkers about anything, he does, for example, gingerly critique some aspects of the war on drugs. The book's anecdotes about Christian-run prisons, community courts and creative sentencing are inspiring and would likely motivate readers of all stripes. Sadly, these stories are footnotes to a diatribe that will appeal to only a narrow audience.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

America's justice system is broken. Offenders repeat and return to jail. Chuck Colson shows why the prevailing systems of criminal justice simply don't work. The book showcases Colson at his best, including personal stories, historical study, and shocking statistics. Bottom line: only a system that is based on a biblical worldview, a system that restores both the offender and the offended, will have any lasting success. This authoritative work is Colson's legacy statement about criminal justice. These proven principles can reverse the current criminal decline.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers (May 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0842352457
• ISBN-13: 978-0842352451
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #346,207 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #11 in

  Books > Religion & Spirituality > Authors, A-Z > ( C ) > Colson, Charles W.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There is another side to the Moon!, February 7, 2004

By	Manuel Hernandez (Shavertown, Pa.) - See all my reviews

This book is superbly written and well documented. He has a section describing the Changing Character in Crime which just simply will send chills up your spine.

Throughout the book Colson is asking, What is the Remedy? What is Justice? What Must We Do? He does not tip toe around these questions. He presents historical examples and modern statistics and you must decide. I especially liked the Alternative Sentencing section. Not giving the Judges the power to lessen the sentence of a horrific crime but at the same time not overloading the prisons with minor crimes and then be forced to release sentenced criminals by the courts.

He looks at the common sense cost and effectiveness of present sentencing. Towards the end of the book he does point to prison systems that are working. And the stats show the reduction of recidivism as a result of these new faith based prisons.

Personally I do not understand why these newer systems cannot be seen as win-win-win situations. The taxpayer saves money, the prisoner does not return to jail, and society gets a responsible citizen back in society.

I cannot understand a less than excellent review being given by a person that has not served in a prison system. I serve in the Ct. Dept. of Correction and after reading this book not only are my eyes are open to reality but so is my mind. There really needs to be a better way than what we are doing today and I believe that at the very least this book should get the legislatures, wardens and citizens asking, no demanding for positive changes. I would love to see what would be the result if every warden in a state be given this book to study and then to come together with Mr. Colson, The Governor and the Commisioner of Correction.

Mr. Colson needs to write another book in this vein of thought. This book went by way too soon.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Colson gives whole new perspective to justice, July 2, 2001

By	Patrick J. Nolan (Leesburg, VA United States) - See all my reviews

Chuck Colson, probably the most influential Christian writer alive today, tackles the knotty questions, "What is justice?" and "How should a modern Christian view our current justice system?" He has a very readable style, using stories of real lives to make his points. Colson makes no bones about his view that our current justice system is horribly out of kilter. But he does more than critique the system. He brilliantly analyzes the philosophical and theological errors that got us in this mess, and lays out a vision for how we can restructure the system to make it repair the harm done to victims and communities, and reform the hearts of offenders. He calls this approach "Restorative Justice", and cites many places in the US and around the world where it is being practiced. This book put my experiences with crime in perspective. It gave me hope, where I had given up on finding a solution to the scourge of crime in our neighborhoods. This is probably the most important book any Christian can read this year. Once you have read it, you'll have a clearer understanding of how society should respond to crime, and what things you can do to help. I highly recommend this book.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars View from a non-Colson insider, December 19, 2003

By	Reb Bacchus (Georgeotwn, Tx United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It is sad to see a professional critique that is so shallow. The major point that Colson makes in the book is that the rise in crime is a moral problem, and a problem of morality. I know that it's popular to put everything in "Right" and "Left" political terms, but when it comes to the criminal justice system those labels make little sense, and Colson is very careful to say that to the extent that both have tried to "Fix" the system both have been wrong. What is needed and evaluation of what works and what doesn't. As one who has spent the last seven years working in prison ministry, I was impressed at how well Colson presented what we all see. I have never worked with Colson's groups, I can't sign the pledge they require, but I'm a great admirer of their organization. The place where I think the book breaks down is in the conclusion, and recommendations. Colson sites several different programs, but doesn't offer a grand vision... I wish he would, but I'm afraid, that like many real world problems, there isn't a simple solution. Success requires men to change their hearts, and that can't be done en masse, but only one heart at a time.