I see this as problematic – especially since the crime and the “punishment” are not closely related.

A man sentenced to church instead of jail attended services with a Jehovah's Witnesses congregation last weekend and says he'll be back for more.

Brett Haines told a judge Tuesday that he attended the service as part of his sentence for a disorderly conduct conviction. He was accused of using racial slurs and threatening a cab driver Nov. 26 in Newtown.

Hamilton County Municipal Judge William Mallory gave Haines a choice between 30 days in jail or attending services at a predominantly black church for six consecutive Sundays.

The judge said he hoped the experience would broaden Haines' cultural awareness and make him more tolerant of minorities.

I could see doing this if he had vandalized the church, but going to “black churches” in lieu of jail does not relate to the crime here.

Prosecutors say Haines, 36, was arrested after threatening cab driver David Wilson and Wilson's wife. They say the intoxicated Haines threatened to punch Wilson, used racial slurs and said he hated black people.

This does raise a First Amendment issue in my mind.

Posted by: Greg at 01:53 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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