Kentucky judge offers church instead of jail for drug offenders...

[TheMightyFavog]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/05/31/judge_gives_offenders_option_of_church/?rss_id=Boston.com+/+News

LONDON, Ky. -- A Kentucky judge has been offering some drug and alcohol offenders the option of attending worship services instead of going to jail or rehab -- a practice some say violates the separation of church and state.

District Judge Michael Caperton, 50, a devout Christian, said his goal is to "help people and their families."

(snip)

Caperton has offered the option about 50 times to repeat drug and alcohol offenders. It is unclear what effect the sentence has had.

David Friedman, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, said the option raises "serious constitutional problems."

[9119495]

1. Don't they serve wine with communion?

[napi21]

2. I don't know about the constitutional problems, but this might

not be such a bad idea. If I read it right, it's an option offered to the offender, not mandatory church. I met a numbr of drug offenders in the past who would have given anything for an option like that! It sounds like it keeps people out of jail, lets them continue to be productive members of society, take care of their families...just a lot of positive things. Of course, if they really have a problem with attending worship services, they still have the option of the standard...going to jail.

[demobabe]

3. Church is not a substitute for treatment

Yeah, I know plenty of people who'd love this option, too. But I know plenty of "Christians" that would just as soon run you over if you didn't get out of their way fast enough while they were driving out of the church parking lot.

And I know plenty of chronic drunks who regularly attend church, too. Pastors even.

Is it Unconstitutional? I would think, but wouldn't sentencing drunks to 12-step programs Unconstitutional as well? That's been going on for years.

[beam me up scottie]

9. So you're saying it's okay for atheists to get jail time

because they're atheists while christians go free ?

* must be so proud. This is exactly the kind of amerikkka he envisions.

[WeRQ4U]

4. Not a fan

Going to church instead of mandatory rehab is ridiculous. I didn't pay attention in church and I went there voluntarily. What's the point of adjudication when this is the result. I've got a better idea, let's let them play video games and eat pizza instead of rehab too. If they don't like Pizza, they can always choose the alternative.... jail. What???

[yellowdoggess]

5. gotta check into this

am in KY, and while there is a professional licensure category for "pastoral-based counselors", and there is now a new "Office of Nonprofit and Faith-Based Initiatives" within the Gov's office; this is news to me! Will reply to this post in a day or so with more info, hopefully...if I can find this post again? Not very experienced here in DU.

[Voltaire99]

6. I would rather the state offered drugs to churchgoers.

Why settle for "the opiate of the people" when you can have the real thing?

Benefits:

-- Jehovah's Witnesses still show up...to party!
-- Precipitous decline in sales of starchy pastel-colored suits
-- Charitable contributions diverted from megachurch lighting and sound systems to more deserving causes
-- "What Would Timothy Leary Do?" bumperstickers
-- Mel Gibson's next S&M movie goes direct to video
-- Turned-on groovy Kansas actually interesting to visit

[cornermouse]

7. So instead of making them attend rehabilitation, they

can choose to go to church? I'm sorry, but they need rehabilitation more than they need church. I don't think a judge mandating church attendance is an acceptable option and its just another step to telling them which church they have to attend.

[johnnomac]

14. Some good, some bad

I agree that they will need the rehab more than they will need the church. And I don't think that sending them to church is morally right on the judge's part. But it will certainly do them good to go to church when they are supposed to try to get off drugs.

[elliek]

8. What about....

...athiests and agnostics? How about religions that are not "mainstream" (see judge who ruled that parents couldn't expose their kid to their religion)?

Sorry, but this seems to me like government endorsing religion. I seriously doubt this judge would allow someone to goto a May Day celebration instead of jail or rehab.

[progressoid]

10. Hear that???

Me neither.

I was listening for the outcry against 'activist judges'.

The silence is deafening.

[beam me up scottie]

11. You too?

I thought maybe I needed hearing aids.

[elliek]

12. Ah, geez you two.....

.....didn't you get the memo? "Activist Judge" is now defined as someone who applies the law to a case that is against the GOP agenda.

[beam me up scottie]

13. Oops.

My bad. I keep mis-filing those silly memos! :silly:

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