Would you choose to attend church every Sunday for a year if it meant you didn’t have to serve your jail sentence? Some offenders in an Alabama town are having this option offered.
“The city judge 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 will be allowed to pick the place of worship but must check in weekly with the pastor and the police department.
If the one-year church attendance program is completed successfully, the offender’s case will be dismissed.”
More here.
According to the article there are already fifty six churches participating. There’s Episcopal parish in the area (Immanuel Episcopal, Bay Minette) of the judge’s jurisdiction. Does anyone know if they’re one of the churches in the program?
Good idea or a terrible one?