Christianity barred? (WTF? Faith Based PRISONS?)

[icymist]

Faith finds a home behind prison walls
By ALEXANDRA ALTER
McCLATCHY-TRIBUNE
RAIFORD, Fla. - At Lawtey, a medium-security prison where the Bible Belt intersects Florida’s prison belt, an anger management workshop looks like this: 96 men in light-blue jumpsuits crowded into an unadorned chapel, singing and clapping as an eight-man choir sings gospel music.

<snip>
It may resemble a church service, but McCoy’s class is part of Florida’s growing faith-based prison program, and Lawtey is the flagship institution.

<snip>
Nearly three years after Gov. Jeb Bush inaugurated Lawtey as the nation’s first faith-based prison in an elaborate Christmas Eve ceremony, Florida’s Department of Corrections has rapidly built up its faith-based venture. Two more prisons have been converted to faith-based institutions, and the state plans to launch another faith-based prison in Central Florida, said Fran Barber, director of classification and programs for Florida’s Department of Corrections. Seven prisons around the state now have faith-based dormitories.

But criminologists, scholars and civil liberties groups have warned against expanding faith-based prison programs, citing questions about their constitutionality and effect on prisoners’ behavior. Some experts dispute claims that faith-based rehabilitation leads to fewer future arrests. Others have questioned whether such programs amount to special treatment for religious prisoners or proselytizing.

Read the article
What happens to those who are not Christian? All I see here are the patronizing aspects of accommodating other religious beliefs in the guise of 'giving more time' to those others while everybody else goes off to practice fundamental Christianity. Is this a way to get those who are not a Christian like they are to become one if they want to leave here?

[bobbolink]

1. Meanwhile, there are those arguing that national service is slavery..

But, this doesn't scare them???

ONe can only wonder...

[EdwardM]

2. Both this and forced national service scare me.

No need to wonder about anything.

[bobbolink]

4. No need to worry about national service.

Obviously, ain't gonna happen.

However, if it did, it would be good for the nation, and good for the citizens.

On the other hand, forcing theocracy on us all... :scared:

[jmowreader]

3. They're cooking the books here, kids

According to the article, which I read, the recidivism rate from Lawtey--the faith-based prison--is 8.5 percent, compared to 65 percent among the other prisons in the Florida Department of Corrections.

Then you scroll up and read the requirements for entering Lawtey--and, incidentally, there are approximately 8600 Florida inmates on waiting lists for the 824 beds in Lawtey--and you see why the recidivism rate is so low from this faith-based joint: you need to be near your release date and have a clean record for three to twelve months prior to your application date.

Basically, you get into Lawtey AFTER you get your shit together. It's almost a reward for fine behavior. Prison worked for the people who got lucky enough to be chosen to go to Lawtey.

I would like to see them try this Faith-Based Incarceration shit at somewhere like Stark, which is The Big House in Florida--it's where Death Row is. They got some fuckin' No Shit Criminals in that place, guys who thoroughly intend to offend again once they are released from the service of the state, and often on the same day. Let's see if Jesus can change THEIR hearts and minds.

[MADem]

5. If you read the article, you don't HAVE to be incarcerated there

It's OPTIONAL:

All chose to be part of a controversial experiment....Lawtey’s 824 inmates come from 26 faith backgrounds, practicing everything from evangelical Christianity to Wicca, Rastafarianism and the Viking-inspired Odinist religion. Yet among the prison’s 561 volunteers, 98 percent are Christian....

[tbyg52]

6. This is what AU had to say about it in 2003

http://www.au.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5017&abbr=pr&security=1002&news_iv_ctrl=1349
I notice there are some changes in the time since then, according to the article in the OP. Can't find any more recent AU comments on it. Can't find anything from the ACLU except a link to a NY Times article.