Jesus or jail? Alabama town offers options for serving time - Polidicks

Yeah, if you're gonna claim the government forced a mall to take down religious decorations you gotta have a better citation than "I remember reading it somewhere, I think"

[QUOTE=The First Amendment]Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; [/QUOTE] To me it seems like the notion on whether this is constitutional or not could go either way. On one hand, we have a situation where the justice system is respecting one establishment of religion above the others, something others could percieve as discrimination. (What if a Jew or Muslim was arrested?) On the other hand, you could get nit-picky and say it is perfectly constitutional as what we are dealing with is not a law, per se, (I could be wrong on this but the OP says it is just a program) and the decision was not made by Congress, but a "small town Judge".

How are you guys not realizing that they're favoring religion in this by allowing people who choose the "religious path" to have an exit ticket whereas others have to spend time in jail if they choose not to go to church.

[QUOTE=Zeke129;32498692]Pretty sure this is unconstitutional[/QUOTE] When was the last time anyone in the American justice system cared about the Constitution anyway?

[QUOTE=Hidole555;32499702]On the other hand, you could get nit-picky and say it is perfectly constitutional as what we are dealing with is not a law, per se, (I could be wrong on this but the OP says it is just a program) and the decision was not made by Congress, but a "small town Judge".[/QUOTE] That's not how it works--any government practice is bound by the Constitution. e.g. a lot of early civil rights legislation was centered around the hiring of minorities--a local government refusing to hire black people might not be a "law" and it might not have come from Congress, but it's still unconstitutional.

[QUOTE=TH89;32499766]That's not how it works--any government practice is bound by the Constitution. e.g. a lot of early civil rights legislation was centered around the hiring of minorities--a local government refusing to hire black people might not be a "law" and it might not have come from Congress, but it's still unconstitutional.[/QUOTE] Different Amendment. [QUOTE=The Fourteenth Amendment] Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.[/QUOTE]

Choose jail.

[QUOTE=Hidole555;32499814]Different Amendment.[/QUOTE] So what?

This is retarded, religion should have no place with law

[QUOTE=lavacano;32499729]When was the last time anyone in the American justice system cared about the Constitution anyway?[/QUOTE] when they think it supports their case and not their opposition's

[QUOTE=TH89;32499830]So what?[/QUOTE] It's a different argument. The fourteenth amendment goes out of its way to specify that States [B]cannot[/B] make a law that takes away the rights of one group while leaving another untouched. The Jim Crow laws come to mind. The first amendment is more general as it says only Congress is forbidden from passing laws about religion.

I went to church every sunday and wednesday for 12 years. It's really not that bad, considering the following: It lasts less than 1 hour. Band that played songs like stairway to heaven. Our preacher was a WW2 veteran. We had huge meals every 4th sunday. We went to see movies all the time. There's usually a bowl full of peppermint candy somewhere in the church. His church might not have peppermints though, so he should pick jail. Just in case.

[QUOTE=Hidole555;32499939]It's a different argument. The fourteenth amendment goes out of its way to specify that States [B]cannot[/B] make a law that takes away the rights of one group while leaving another untouched. The Jim Crow laws come to mind. The first amendment is more general as it says only Congress is forbidden from passing laws about religion.[/QUOTE] the supreme court doesn't interpret it that way

Jokes aside, church is a much better option and we all know it. That's why this is bad. It might as well be mandatory.

Seems pretty obviously unconstitutional. If a church service is an alternative to jail time, then a judge would have to sentence a person to it, thus violating the constitution

[QUOTE=EpicRenegadeCop;32500009]Seems pretty obviously unconstitutional. If a church service is an alternative to jail time, then a judge would have to sentence a person to it, thus violating the constitution[/QUOTE] Please explain. How is the consitutionality dependent on the judge sentencing the person?

[QUOTE=Hidole555;32500065]Please explain. How is the consitutionality dependent on the judge sentencing the person?[/QUOTE] Well, if it's in a court of law, then it's a legal issue, then the constitution applies.

Choose church, go dressed in a berqa.

get lynched

i'd go to a unitarian universalist church like a boss

[QUOTE=Zeke129;32498692]Pretty sure this is unconstitutional[/QUOTE] Well so is a court ordering you to go to Alcoholics Anonymous (since a step to pass requires you to accept God and shit) but that doesn't stop them either It's so stupid

idiot cull 2012 or what all opportunists will go out and commit crimes because of the easy way out, then get locked up. bam

Definitely interesting.. don't see why people are against it. It's church once a week, talking with different people there can make a difference for a criminal. But then this would work in case of a more serious criminals too, but it would be a shitstorm.

What if the criminal is of another religion? What if he/she is atheist? What the fuck?

[QUOTE=Region;32501596]What if he/she is atheist? What the fuck?[/QUOTE] If he's athiest and he's down for a petty crime for few years, he could consider going to church. You don't have to get too involved, just chill and crack a few jokes with a priest or whoever, and don't go doing crimes again "like Jesus wouldn't want you to."

[QUOTE=NO ONE;32499378]Fuck I'd do church. You still get to live. Don't have to deal with shit jail food, shit jailmates, shit treatment, etc. I consider myself mostly spiritual, but I kinda accept Christianity. Not sure how else to describe it other than I believe in God.[/QUOTE] If I remember right, jail food is pretty good actually, that's one of the main reasons why it's bankrupting your country jailing everyone for minor shit like weed. Though, I'd probably take the church too, I can sleep through anything :v:

i think it'd be better if one of the other options was merely to get involved with some sort of community program and let different community programs offer spots, some of which could be church groups.

facepunch atheists lmao

I hope they don't think this will do anything to the convicts. It didn't do anything to me in 18 years at least.

[QUOTE=dass;32502493]I hope they don't think this will do anything to the convicts. It didn't do anything to me in 18 years at least.[/QUOTE] So even after 18 years you are still a nasty criminal who doesn't change?