Critiques of The Alternative Justices Project: Actors
While the Alternative Justices Project has received a lot of positive feedback, we want to be transparent about the critiques, whether constructive or not, that we have received over the years. We primarily hear positive things, people talking about how there is nowhere else to get this type of care, people telling us how these processes have transformed their lives, but positive feedback isn’t the goal of this post. Part of Alternative Justices isn’t about hiding the harm we may have done, but about addressing it in the open so we can all learn. This series will offer critiques from various sources.
Critiques from Actors/Those Accused of Doing Harm
One-sided
As we mentioned, previously, we had one AltJ steward for each situation, and now we assign those who have experienced harm and those they have accused separate stewards.
Too much process
We try to tailor each process to those involved, but sometimes we encourage actors to go beyond what they are familiar with in order to help them change the patterns that have led to them being accused of harm.
Not enough process
We know that sometimes we aren’t perfect. This critique alongside the one above it show that perhaps we don’t have the right mix for everyone yet. We do work to customize our work to each situation, but we are still evolving and learning how to do this.
Unclear
As we mentioned, being a decentralized collective does have some downsides in that we can be less organized than hierarchical groups. We believe the benefits of being decentralized outweighs these losses in organization. We are constantly working on ways to make our activities, beliefs, and goals clearer. Additionally, we have been told people want to be told what to do, or for us to have clear steps. We believe that this work needs to be customized and that it is vital for actors to come up with their own steps towards transforming their behaviors and thoughts.
Punishment would be easier
We have often heard that for some, our alternative justices processes are more difficult than traditional punishment. Taking a punishment would have a clear end, and has a finite goal. Transformation is endless. Questions arise of: when do those accused get to move past their harms and how does a community ever move on?
“We all have work to do. Our work is in the light. We have no perfect moral ground to stand on, shaped as we are by this toxic complex time. We may not have time, or emotional capacity, to walk each path together. We are all flailing in the unknown at the moment, terrified, stretched beyond ourselves, ashamed, realizing the future is in our hands. We must all do our work. Be accountable and go heal, simultaneously, continuously. It’s never too late.”
