Martha Minow : How forgiveness can create a more just legal system

Martha Minow·TEDWomen 2019
How forgiveness can create a more just legal system
Summary
We must think that our law is used to judge offenders, to let them have agreement,and to be made up for.
However, the law can remove the penalties for those who apologize and seek forgiveness. And then, not only the tool of forgiveness that is within the legal system is not used recently, but also teachers don’t teach law students about it.
Especially, criminals of black people, children, youth, and poor people don’t have a chance to explain themselves and to listen to their stories, even if what they did was to protect them.

A law should be used for restorative justice. It’s more important to understand accountability and service rather than punishment. It’s not to deny the fact of wrongdoing. Not pushing into punishment but a legal system of forgiveness is used to return to life.

Words in this story
Forgiveness /noun/ pardon, absolution, clemency, mercy
atonement /noun/ amends, indemnity, compensation, reparation
resentment /noun/ sense of bitterness, indignation, displeasure