It is in the nature of being human that we will never have perfection. While we have a duty to care for the injured and the grieving, I think we should avoid constantly looking for some one to blame when things go wrong. If we are not careful we will reach the point that no one is willing to be a judge, a policeman or to work for the probation service for fear of making a mistake.

The process of deciding just who needs to be locked away and for how long is never going to be an easy or simple. Those that carry out this unenviable ask on our behalf will from time to time make mistakes and those mistakes some of which will have severe consequences. In the worst cases innocent people are killed and their loved ones are burdened with a life time of sadness and pain. I am sure that the people who carry this responsibility are all too aware of their own fallibility and of the consequences of any mistakes that they may make. Anyone who carries out a public office needs to be held accountable for his or her actions. Each of them must take responsibility for any negligence or incompetency. They must not however be punished for making well considered judgments based on all the facts they have at their disposal.

This Weeks Reflections

• Victims’ families want to prosecute (News item)
• You can’t always predict future behaviour
• We always want to blame
• Restorative is more effective

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