Criminal Justice and the Ethics of Jesus

Abstract

This chapter identifies three important elements within the ethical teaching and practice of Jesus: his attitude to law; his call to repentance; and his open pastoral acceptance of sinners. In each case, the potential relevance of this teaching to criminal justice in a modern liberal-democratic state is considered. Naturally, Jesus’ teaching and practice were strongly religious in orientation, but the chapter argues that, suitably adapted to remove its specifically faith-based dimensions, the ethics of Jesus has an enduring relevance for the criminal justice policies and practice of contemporary secular states.