Who is the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition?

Our mission is to reverse the trend of mass incarceration in Colorado. We are a coalition of nearly 7,000 individual members and over 100 faith and community organizations who have united to stop perpetual prison expansion in Colorado through policy and sentence reform.

Our chief areas of interest include drug policy reform, women in prison, racial injustice, the impact of incarceration on children and families, the problems associated with re-entry and stopping the practice of using private prisons in our state.

If you would like to be involved please go to our website and become a member.


Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Why We Are All Moral Hypocrites

This study should be presented to those who sit in some sort of judgment for a living..

Most of us, whether we admit it or not, are moral hypocrites. We judge others more severely than we judge ourselves.

Mounting evidence suggests moral decisions result from the jousting between our knee-jerk responses (think "survival instinct") and our slower, but more collected evaluations. Which is more responsible for our self-leniency?

To find out, a recent study presented people with two tasks. One was described as tedious and time-consuming; the other, easy and brief. The subjects were asked to assign each task to either themselves or the next participant. They could do this independently or defer to a computer, which would assign the tasks randomly. Eighty-five percent of 42 subjects passed up the computer’s objectivity and assigned themselves the short task – leaving the laborious one to someone else. Furthermore, they thought their decision was fair. However, when 43 other subjects watched strangers make the same decision, they thought it unjust.


MSNBC

3 comments:

Randy said...

Insightful article. Rings true

Anonymous said...

This is a great, informative article! It gives the reader an accurate insight into ourselves.

I notice the ones who claim the most moral authority gravitate toward fundamental (extreme) religion. Experience has taught me that far too many in this category tend to judge others the most, while extolling their idea of saintly privilege. Baffling.

What does this say about individuals who choose an occupation that demands constant judging of others? What about the prosecutor or judge that applies whatever means necessary to fulfill their idea of 'justice', even if it includes deceit and fabrications? Do these idividuals lack empathy, compassion, and require a feeling superiority? Some of them are brutal in their judgments without truly knowing the people they persecute and incarcerate. They don't know or care to understand the history of the defendants, especially the young ones. Guilty until guilty. Is it the nature of them to be narcissistic simply to feed their own egos?

Psychology is most fascinating. My post reveals my disappointment and frustration with what I once had faith in. (The American justice system.)

Hmmm.

Anonymous said...

Maybe other people are just lazy....naturally...not me...