digithead
Thinker
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2005
- Messages
- 147
See http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/06/03/prison.religion.ap/index.html
While I agree with the judge's rationale behind his judgment in that the state has no right to promote one belief over another, I have couple of concerns about this ruling.
1) As someone who has worked in a state correctional system and is working on a Ph.D. studying prisons and correctional treatment programs, I've found that programs such as these are commonplace and provide a somewhat therapeutic outlet for inmates. And while these programs rarely if ever reduce recidivism, if inmates are occupied in an otherwise innocuous activity that lessens stress and provides solace for their situations then institutional tensions are reduced and it becomes a safer place to work for correctional staff and a better environment to live in for the inmates. In addition, while it worries me that that belief in God is the only thing from preventing someone from committing evil, in this instance, I really don't care what a person's motivation is.
2) Faith-based groups generally are the only ones who want to go into prisons and do this type of work. Where will prison systems find groups willing to do these activities?
3) Evangelicals will use this ruling as more evidence of "judicial activism" and the war on Christianity, further pushing us towards theocracy.
Hopefully, correctional staff will amend the program to provide similar opportunities to inmates who are non-Christian (which includes Muslims, atheists, agnostics, etc.) to prevent it from being crosswise with the Establishment clause...
Anybody have other thoughts on this?
While I agree with the judge's rationale behind his judgment in that the state has no right to promote one belief over another, I have couple of concerns about this ruling.
1) As someone who has worked in a state correctional system and is working on a Ph.D. studying prisons and correctional treatment programs, I've found that programs such as these are commonplace and provide a somewhat therapeutic outlet for inmates. And while these programs rarely if ever reduce recidivism, if inmates are occupied in an otherwise innocuous activity that lessens stress and provides solace for their situations then institutional tensions are reduced and it becomes a safer place to work for correctional staff and a better environment to live in for the inmates. In addition, while it worries me that that belief in God is the only thing from preventing someone from committing evil, in this instance, I really don't care what a person's motivation is.
2) Faith-based groups generally are the only ones who want to go into prisons and do this type of work. Where will prison systems find groups willing to do these activities?
3) Evangelicals will use this ruling as more evidence of "judicial activism" and the war on Christianity, further pushing us towards theocracy.
Hopefully, correctional staff will amend the program to provide similar opportunities to inmates who are non-Christian (which includes Muslims, atheists, agnostics, etc.) to prevent it from being crosswise with the Establishment clause...
Anybody have other thoughts on this?
