Repent! Or Face The Consequences.

Posted on September 24, 2011 at 4:35 pm by JM Ashby

Is this even legal?

MOBILE, Ala (Reuters) – Starting on Monday, nonviolent offenders in Bay Minette, Alabama, will get to choose whether to serve their sentence in a jail cell or a church pew.

Municipal Judge Bayless E. Biles is launching “Operation Restore Our Community,” intended to function not only as a diversion program but also to address jail overcrowding issues in the southwest Alabama community.

Misdemeanor offenders will have the option of attending church every Sunday for a year rather than serve their sentences in jail. Participants must check in with both the police and a clergy member each week, and if they follow the rules can have their case dismissed.

Do we really need to incorporate churches into the prison industrial complex?

If your jails are overcrowded, quit sentencing people to jail time for smoking a joint and save space for the real criminals. Ya’ know, the ones who wear suits and carry a Blackberry.

I hope this is challenged in court immediately.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1128441487 Ferris J. Anderson Jr

    Talk about your high wall of separation betwix church and state.

  • JWheels

    So do offenders have the option to choose a synagogue, mosque, buddhist temple, Scientology center, etc., or just a christian church?

    “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof …” -1st Amendment; US Constitution

    Legal precedent says it applies at all levels of government. I wonder how that relates to judicial decisions at the municipal level. What about atheists like me, do we go directly to jail, or do we just get executed?

    • JMAshby

      I’m sure us heretics are sent straight to church so we can be “saved.”

    • trgahan

      I am sure a “proper” Alabama county doesn’t have any them synagogues, tree worshipers or suicide bomber makin’ places. Heck, I bet asking to attend a Catholic church would double your sentence. Don’t want any lousy papists either!
      Though I love the logic here “Criminals are not church goers, therefore church goers are never criminals.” It is perfect because you can’t even begin to approach in as a counter argument.

  • http://cousinavi.wordpress.com cousinavi

    What happens if the offender is already a church going sort? Sentenced to continue doing what you already do? That doesn’t seem like much of a deterrent.
    Personally, I’d prefer the punishment with less sodomy. I’d opt for jail.

    • JWheels

      Pfft. Church-going people don’t commit crimes of course.

  • D_C_Wilson

    “Ya’ know, the ones who wear suits and carry a Blackberry.”

    I don’t know. I can’t think of a better place for our Wall Street grifters to learn better techniques on how to bilk people out of their life savings than a church.

  • http://twitter.com/JrMariner77 Michael Busick

    Don’t traffic violators in North Carolina have to pray in court to get out (or cut the monetary penalty amount of) traffic tickets?

    If religion can work its way into the military (bible notations on rifle sightings, prayer meetings, etc.), I guess it’s only a matter of time before it works its way into prison.