Unitive Justice

Unitive Justice (“UJ”) is a lifestyle that moves past Hammurabi’s Law (i.e., an eye for an eye) to a place where responses are not punishments but actions to help the victim, perpetrator, and community heal as a whole via lovingkindness. UJ comprises two main parts: Restorative Justice Circles and the 14 Arcs. • Restorative Justice Circles bring together those who have harmed (the perpetrator), those harmed (the victim), and the community at large to identify the root cause of the behavior that caused the harm and identify ways that the perpetrator can ameliorate the harm caused. • The 14 Arcs represent a practical methodology to move past punitive criminal theory to a place where lovingkindness guides criminal and legal adjudication. The 14 Arcs are: 1. From Rules to Values Rules are elements of punishment. Values tell us who the members of our communities are and allow for understanding the inherent differences in each community. 2. From Control to Self-Governance Control is a creature of possession imposed upon us without our consent. Self-governance is something we impose upon ourselves as a way we want to lead our lives; it is entirely voluntary 3. From Deception to Honesty Deception is critical to the punitive criminal legal system we live within; police can and are encouraged to lie to us to gain a confession. Honesty allows people to get the help they need without fear of being manipulated. 4. From Judgment to Insight Insight is a place of discovery; by emphasizing it, we can experience new things without fear and understand different people. 5. From Distrust to Trust By trusting our community, we move past a place of survival and one of thriving. 6. From Self-Doubt to Courage If we are no longer living in fear, we can have the courage to speak our truths and express whom we want to be. 7. From Proportional Revenge to Lovingkindness Unitive Justice Web Page Materials -> Jack White and Eli MacDonald We move past reciprocating harm as a way of atonement and treating others how we would like to be treated. 8. From Self-Interest to Community The community is the space we all share. By honoring it, we build deeper bonds that we can all value together. 9. From Hierarchy to Equality Hierarchy excludes people by nature; those who do not have been controlled by those who do have. Equality allows us to all have a voice and the power to shift and changes those around us. 10. From Punishment to Connection The connection allows us to fix the problems that caused harm. 11. From Compliance to Mutually Beneficial Action Creating a system where everyone wins ensures more significant levels of success. 12. From Event to Context Taking the broader picture into consideration allows us to see all of the harms and causes that need to be considered. 13. From Opposition to Synergy Instead of fighting, when working together, our collective strengths are enhanced. 14. From Fear to Love Love is a place of understanding, and being guided by it allows us to find more optimal solutions.

Thanks to Alliance for Unitive Justice – www.a4uj.org
Unitive Justice – Lovingkindness in Action – https://www.unitivejustice.com/
Restorative Justice Exchange: What is the difference between Unitive Justice and Restorative Justice?-
https://restorativejustice.org/rj-archive/what-is-the-difference-between-unitive-justice-and-restorative- justice/

This page was researched and designed by Jack White and Eli MacDonald

Stuffed Elephant as Mascot

The Elephant is our mascot. Around the world, the elephant is a powerful symbol of strength, social bonds, wisdom, dignity, grace, wisdom, confidence, patience, commitment, peace, gentleness, discernment,  intelligence, compassion, collective consciousness, and the removal of obstacles.  This particular elephant is a creative depiction of the Blind Men & the Elephant story. 

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