Ala. town's criminals get choice: Jail or church

[AnCap Dave]

Source

(CBS/AP)

BAY MINETTE, Ala. - Authorities say non-violent offenders in southern Alabama will have a new choice: Go to jail, or go to church every Sunday for a year.

CBS News affiliate WKRG-TV in Mobile reports that Operation Restore Our Community begins next week.

(Scroll down to watch a report from WKRG-TV)

The city judge in Bay Minette will let misdemeanor offenders choose to work off their sentences in jail and pay a fine; or go to church every Sunday for a year.

If offenders select church, they'll be allowed to pick the place of worship but must check in weekly with the pastor and police.

If the one-year church attendance program is completed, the offender's case will be dismissed.

Bay Minette Police Chief Mike Rowland says the program could change the lives of people heading down the wrong path. So far, 56 churches are participating.

You've got to be shitting me......

[Fixed link. --MrB]

[FSBlueApocalypse]

So what if you're a Jew/Muslim/Hindu/Atheist etc?

[AnCap Dave]

So what if you're a Jew/Muslim/Hindu/Atheist etc?

On Good Morning America this morning they mentioned that it could be an institution of any faith. That being said, the idiot also claimed there was a church of atheism as well. I'm not even kidding.

[MrBogosity]

On Good Morning America this morning they mentioned that it could be an institution of any faith. That being said, the idiot also claimed there was a church of atheism as well. I'm not even kidding.

Is there a video online anywhere?

[AnCap Dave]

Is there a video online anywhere?

Here is the bit. They talked the Romney/Perry nonsense first. The 2nd half talks about the Alabama story.

"But what choice do you have if you are an atheist?"
"Well remember there is a church for atheists now too. It might not be in that town, but there is a church for atheists."

[Ibrahim90]

On Good Morning America this morning they mentioned that it could be an institution of any faith. That being said, the idiot also claimed there was a church of atheism as well. I'm not even kidding.

he may be referring to the League of reason? *burn*

either way, the whole affair is asinine. nobody should be forced to go to church for anything, by a state institution.

[MrBogosity]

Don't give that insignificant group of yahoos more credit than they deserve.

I think he might have been talking about this: http://firstchurchofatheism.com/

[AnCap Dave]

So I posted this story on another forum....and wow.

Im sorry that i actually know that no one is going to look at what some people say about stupid things the government fucks up. The positive is hmmm church an hour long service where you can sleep if you dont want to have any faith or jail where you can get raped you dont see a positive out of that. WOW

So apparently indoctrination instead of rape is a good thing.

[MrBogosity]

I think there's a lot of indoctrination in jails, too, albeit of a different kind. People get indoctrinated into a criminal mindset and so nonviolent inmates who got convicted of something that isn't really a crime ends up committing real crimes after he's released.

[Travis Retriever]

I think there's a lot of indoctrination in jails, too, albeit of a different kind. People get indoctrinated into a criminal mindset and so nonviolent inmates who got convicted of something that isn't really a crime ends up committing real crimes after he's released.

So much for jails "preventing" crime...

[Ibrahim90]

Don't give that insignificant group of yahoos more credit than they deserve.

I think he might have been talking about this: http://firstchurchofatheism.com/

I'm not-not deliberately. sorry if I gave the wrong impression-I was just dissing them..

in any event: at least I now know where to go to, in the event of deconverting prior to any wedding I'm a groom in. 

and frankly, I don't quite see the point behind any jail time for all but the most severe offenders; why not just impose a fine or community service? that way, you avoid Jail indoctrination into violence, and state Governments can save money (it can even make some). and of course, even not considering that, you would also still have people free to work and contribute to society-rather than becoming its parasites..

especially as many of you know, many of these people are in Jail for no more serious a charge than being caught with a joint, doing harm to no one. of course, we shouldn't even fine people for having drugs-or even make it illegal.

[Virgil0211]

I personally think this would be an easier problem if either were required as a sentence on their own. As it is, it's a choice between the two, neither of which is ideal. Part of me is leaning toward this being an improvement, though that's a bit like saying that grade E meat boiled for a week is preferable to a turd sandwich. At least this allows the guy a way to avoid the jail where he becomes more likely to reoffend.

However, the bias in favor of religious institutions is obvious. If I remember correctly from my Criminology classes, community attachment (which at times is expressed through participation in church activities, though not necessarily) was better correlated with reduction in criminal behavior. Perhaps an option based on this idea would be more effective.

[FSBlueApocalypse]

I agree with that. Something where he volunteers for 4 hours every week with some organization would be a good option.

[MrBogosity]

They already have that option for many petty crimes and misdemeanors.

[Virgil0211]

I agree with that. Something where he volunteers for 4 hours every week with some organization would be a good option.

Of course, the problem with that is that forcing someone to volunteer doesn't necessarily make them more likely to become invested in their community. I think some form of counseling based on that idea would be more effective, but that has a bit too much of a George Orwell feel to it.

It's a situation with few if any good answers, and certainly no perfect ones.