Reforming Criminal Justice

A Christian Proposal

By: Matthew T. Martens, Derwin Gray - foreword

Narrated by: Tim Tremaine

Noted Attorney and Seminary Graduate Matthew T. Martens Answers the Question: Does the Design and Operation of the American Criminal Justice System Reflect Christian Love of Neighbor?

Jesus told his followers that the entirety of the Old Testament’s law is encapsulated in the commands to love God and to love their neighbors as themselves. In Reforming Criminal Justice: A Christian Proposal, Matthew T. Martens argues that love of neighbor must be the animating force for true reformation of the criminal justice system, obligating us to seek the best for both the criminally victimized and the criminally accused.

Using his theological training Martens reveals how Scripture provides several guideposts (accuracy, due process, accountability, impartiality, and proportionality) for loving our neighbors as it relates to criminal justice. Then, drawing on his near quarter century practicing criminal law, he examines how America’s justice system falls short of the biblical standard. By understanding how our current system operates and considering how love of neighbor relates to issues of crime and justice, we will be better equipped to seek true Christian reform of the justice system.

• A Biblical Perspective on Criminal Justice: Offers a biblical framework for thinking about the concept of justice for both the victim and the perpetrator
• Examines the History of the American Criminal Justice System: Surveys the evolution of the criminal justice system in the United States with a focus on its misuse from the time of the Civil War to the civil rights movement
• Assesses the Criminal Justice System: Examines the operation of the American justice system today, including plea bargains, assistance of counsel, the death penalty, and more
• Foreword by Derwin L. Gray: Pastor of Transformation Church in Indian Land, South Carolina, and the author of How to Heal Our Racial Divide and Building a Multiethnic Church

©2023 Matthew T. Martens (P)2023 Crossway

Excellent presentation of the CJ system

Martens’ book is readable, well-organized, and appropriately presented for the lay person.

It serves the dual purposes of helping the reader to develop a sort of theology of criminal justice, as well as an introduction to the history of the American criminal justice system. I cannot say I come to all the same conclusions as he does, but I am grateful for his heart and work. Highly recommend.

Detailed history and case law

Justice is love or it’s not love by God’s standards. The author provides the reasons and evidence to support this case.

Bold, credible, and clear

There were many times during reading this book I felt angry and sad that the US criminal justice system lends itself to injustice in so many places (bail system, plea bargaining, etc.). But even more anger and sadness that I have been so indifferent and ignorant, making me me complicit. This book called me to repentance to obey God's law: to love my neighbor as myself including the criminally accused and the law enforcement worker doing injustice.

Part 1 of this book is a Christian ethic on general criminal justice. part 2 is a detailed description of ways the US criminal justice system lends itself to injustice. The main point of the book is to show how both the people being accused and people working in the criminal justice system are both our neighbors entitled to our love, even the accused, and both are capable of doing injustice, even prosecutors, judges, and law enforcement officers. This book calls us away from partisan rhetoric on criminal justice (especially "tough on crime" stuff) and a call to God's law: love your neighbor as yourself.