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November 19, 2012

Oklahoma Teen Sentenced to 10 Years in Church

To avoid prison, 17-year-old must graduate, wear ankle monitor, and attend church every Sunday.

Melissa Steffan

(Update: The New York Times has examined the ongoing debate over the constitutionality of the parole terms set by the judge.)

After pleading guilty to vehicular manslaughter this summer, an Oklahoma teenager received an unusual sentence: He can avoid prison time if he meets all conditions of his probation—including 10 years of Sunday church attendance.

According to Oklahoma's Tulsa World, Tyler Alred, 17, "must go to church weekly as part of his deferred sentence for manslaughter tied to a DUI crash that killed his friend."

This is not the first time Judge Mike Norman has required church attendance as part of his sentences, says assistant district attorney Jim Carnagey.

And although some say the church requirement is "constitutionally suspect" or "simply ridiculous," attorneys for Alred say they do not plan to challenge the sentence, because Alred already "goes to church every Sunday."

posted by Melissa Steffan | Comments (3)

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Making church attendance obligatory and, in a way, a punishment, sounds like a really bad idea if you want someone to build a relationship with God.

Posted By: Jonathan | November 19, 2012 10:07 AM

Er, seem to remember something similar happened to the Gibeonites in Joshua 9 in the Bible....

Posted By: andrew price | November 19, 2012 12:39 PM

Well, hey, if a judge can say to a young criminal, serve time or join the military, your choice, than he ought to be able to say serve time or go to church. And for manslaughter I think I would go for church and the ten year period is to get him into adulthood where most people calm down and join society. Ever since this country and for other countries too existed judges have been giving young men the choice of military or jail. At least the kid gets to stay home, the military rips you away from your family. Some would say the judge is too kind in this circumstance but that's his choice. It's the law that gives judges discretionary options.

Posted By: Original Anna | November 20, 2012 12:40 AM

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