The Courage of Compassion: A Journey from Judgment to Connection

Steinberg, Robin

ISBN 10: 0593084624 / ISBN 13: 9780593084625

Published by Optimism Press, 2023

Seller Inventory # 401485881

Synopsis:

We all think we are compassionate just like we all think we are honest. But true compassion is not innate. Compassion for others, especially those that we don t know or understand, must be learned. Our lack of compassion is perhaps most extreme in the exercise of criminal justice, where a person's entire life, worth, and character are judged through the myopic lens of a single act. But no one, says Steinberg, should be reduced to their worst moment. The Courage of Compassion, is a powerful memoir from veteran public defender and founder of The Bail Project about how we can reimagine justice through compassion. Steinberg shares her journey as a public defender, representing people at precisely that time in their lives - their own worst moment. She recounts the heart-wrenching stories of her clients and invites us to interrogate our fears and beliefs about justice and punishment. Lastly, Steinberg reveals moments when she questioned her own capacity for compassion, as well as her ability to fight for better, more humane justice from within a system that is riddled holes and seemingly interminable problems. A gritty tale about confronting injustice and challenging ourselves to rediscover our shared humanity, The Courage of Compassion is an invitation to join Steinberg as she explores what it will take to move beyond our current justice paradigm. The criminal justice system reflects a history and power structure, but it also mirrors how we come into society and show up for one another. As she writes, the quest to improve this system will only truly begin 'when we can finally see in the faces of those ensnared and imprisoned in our legal system, ourselves. And when we can see our children, in their children.'

About the Author: Robin Steinberg is the founder and CEO of The Bail Project, a national effort to combat mass incarceration by transforming the pretrial system in the United States. Over a 35-year career as a public defender, Robin represented thousands of low-income people in over-policed neighborhoods and founded three additional high-impact organizations: The Bronx Defenders, The Bronx Freedom Fund, and Still She Rises. Robin has also taught trial advocacy and other courses at Columbia University Law School and UCLA School of Law. Robin is a frequent commentator on criminal justice issues and has contributed opinion pieces to the New York Times, the Marshall Project, and USA Today.

Camilo A. Ramirez is a Colombian literary translator and strategic communications professional. He currently serves as Chief Strategy Officer for The Bail Project. His translations include The Desert and Its Seed by Jorge Barón Biza, and Like a Fading Shadow, by Antonio Muños Molina, which was shortlisted for the 2018 Man Booker International Prize.

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Courage of Compassion: A Journey from ...
Publisher: Optimism Press
Publication Date: 2023
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: New