The Problem with Punishment and Homicide

Homicide is a horrifying act of harm. It's an action with permanent consequences. Our stories of homicide almost always define justice as punishment instead of healing. But punishment doesn't bring back the dead. It doesn’t promote healing for families who lose loved ones. And often punishment creates cycles of violence instead of interrupting them.

Our host Kathleen lost her brother to homicide when he was 20 years old. For this episode, Kathleen sits down with three amazing humans. Stanley (Jamel) Bellamy, Roslyn Smith, and Rev. Dr. Sharon White-Harrigan have all done decades of work to interrupt harm in their communities. They have all also served time for homicide and spent years reckoning with the impact of their actions.  Together they talk about the limits of punishment for preventing future harm and helping people heal.

We also speak with Erika Sasson, an attorney and respected restorative justice practitioner. Erica has facilitated "direct dialogs" between people who have committed homicides and the loved ones of their victims. Full transcript and useful links at https://www.beyondpunishment.org/problem-with-punishment/ep7-homicide