Crime Is A Community Responsibility

Additional Information

Theological and Biblical Basis and Blessings of Volunteer Court Mentoring

Session One - John 1: 1-14

Mentoring in misdemeanor and juvenile courts is very critical.

1. Most crimes are heard in these courts.  Felonies are most publicized in other courts, but the vast majority of all offenses are tried in juvenile and misdemeanor courts.

2. An estimated 80% of those who commit felonies, our most serious crimes, first are convicted of a juvenile offense or misdemeanor (maximum fine: usually $500 - $1,000, and usually up to 90 days in jail).

3. It is here where we can prevent serious future crimes.

Session Two - 1 Corinthians - 13

Love:  Our most powerful weapon in the war against crime.

The nature of love in our misdemeanor and juvenile courts.

1. Love is patient.  "Just once probationer smiled in two years."

2. Love hopes all things.  Volunteer's reaction to cheating.

3. Love is its own reward.  Helping Sally cry.

4. Paradoxical.  As soft as velvet, as hard as cold, gray steel.

5. Effective.  Reduces repeat crime (recidivism) by 11-½ times.

6. Theologian Karl Barth:  Love the people key to success.

7. Key to success to remedial reading program is the same as the key to success to volunteer probation program.

Session Three - 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

We all have different gifts, different abilities.  We are not all mentors.  Some of us have different gifts which are important to sustain a volunteer court program which greatly reduces repeat crime, prevents more serious crime and evangelizes by example and inspiration.

Session Four - The Fatherless - Psalms 27:10 (KJV)

Many of the apprehended offenders in court are fatherless.  The Bible, on 42 occasions, tells us we have a duty to the fatherless (and motherless).  Examples in court were the father who beat the mother in front of the children and the disowned son of the rich attorney.  A psychologist did a study of high school seniors and 17 year old incarcerated youths.  The major difference: The boys in high school had good fathers.  The others did not.

Session Five - Only the thief called Him "Jesus" Luke 23: 42

It is not only interesting, but highly significant that only the repentant thief on the cross called Him "Jesus".  As an example, in the Living Bible, He is called "sir" 44 times, "master" 19 times, "teacher" 16 times, "Lord" 16 times, and by other titles 57 times.  Also, the thief received a very unique promise, "Today you shall be with me in Paradise."   Some of the reasons why the relationship between Jesus and the thief was very special (and should be to us) are:

1. Parable of the Last Judgment.

2. Barabas, an apprehended offender, was the first and most immediate beneficiary of Jesus' sacrificial death by earthly standards.

3. Isaiah's prediction some 700 years earlier, Isaiah 53.  Jesus' death as a criminal is not mere happenstance, but highly significant.

4. Jesus shared temptation, love, joy, sorrow and all emotions and experiences with us.  Yet with the apprehended offender he shared all these experiences, plus being arrested, tried, sentenced.  Does this make the apprehended offender of great concern to Jesus?  Should we have great concern for the "thief"?

Send mail to rswain@rj-systems.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2000 Court Volunteer Services Division of The National Judicial College
Last modified: December 28, 2000