10 Times Star Trek: Voyager Went Woke
5. Rehabilitation and Second Chances
The buzzword for crime and punishment in the 80s was 'tough'. In the US, President Reagan waged his 'war on drugs'. And by the 90s, controversial 'three strikes' laws handed dramatically longer sentences to some repeat offenders.
On the other hand, the 90s also saw substantial investment in US crime prevention programs. And Canada introduced a major sentencing reform that allowed for more alternatives to incarceration.
The argument over punishment and rehabilitation was far from settled. And frankly, it still isn't.
Then along came Voyager in 1995, and in many ways, it became the ship of second chances.
In the Alpha Quadrant, captured Maquis were considered criminals. Janeway could have thrown Chakotay's crew in the brig. Instead, they became a part of her crew, and eventually, her family. She doesn't just tolerate Chakotay; she makes him her first officer, despite past deeds.
The episode Learning Curve is as on the nose as it gets in advocating for education rather than punishment. Janeway and Tuvok discuss how best to deal with a handful of ex-Maquis crewmembers who are struggling with Starfleet discipline. In Janeway's words:
Instruct them in how to run a Starfleet vessel. Show them why we do things the way we do. Give them an opportunity to feel like they're part of the team.
Even Suder fits the theme, although his journey makes for a much darker story. When Suder murders a crewmember, Janeway explicitly says she would prefer to rehabilitate him than end his life. Confined to quarters, Tuvok becomes his mentor, guiding him through meditation to help control his violent urges.
While Janeway is hesitant to allow Suder more freedom, his progress after months of support and rehabilitation is apparent. And later, he would give his life to save the ship and crew.
But the message really begins with Tom Paris. He was kicked out of Starfleet, not for the piloting error that caused the death of three officers, but for covering it up. His next stop was the Maquis, where he was almost immediately captured and thrown into prison for treason. But his luck finally changed when Janeway needed him to track down Chakotay's ship.
When Voyager was pulled into the Delta Quadrant, Tom went from observer to bridge officer. So if anyone's the poster boy for second chances, it's Tom Paris.