Tulsa World: Lawmaker wants legal opinion on faith-based prison program

Home > News > Article

Comment

RSS

Bookmark

Lawmaker wants legal opinion on faith-based prison program

By World Capitol Bureau
Published: 8/8/2007 12:04 PM
Last Modified: 8/8/2007 12:04 PM

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A law giving rights to faith-based groups within the prison system is unconsitititonal, a lawmaker said Wednesday.

Rep. Al Lindley said he has written two letters asking the attorney general for opinions on the constitutionality of House Bill 2101, sponsored by House Speaker Lance Cargill.

Lindley, D-Oklahoma City, said the Transformational Justice Act allows public money to be appropriated to private, faith-based groups in violation of the separation of church and state.

He said the bill also usurps the authority of the Department of Corrections by establing a Reentry Policy Council to oversee agency policies.

A new program created in the Department of Corrections is designed to help prisoners re-enter society with the help of faith-based or community groups.

Speaker Lance Cargill, R-Harrah, could not be reached immediately for comment.

By World Capitol Bureau

Comment

RSS

Bookmark

Reader Comments

Show: Most Recent Comment First

Add your comment

2 comments have been made on this story so far. Tell us what you think below!

Reporting Comments

If you see a comment that violates our terms and conditions, please help us by clicking the "Report this Comment" link next to a comment. That will alert the web staff to review the comment. Thank you. -- Web Editor Jason Collington

Report Comment

pb, tulsa (8/8/2007 12:38:36 PM)

Personally I have no desire to pay any money to a private organization of bleeding hearts for a pre release program. I dont trust them private, faith-based group with my taxes. There is no way.

Report Comment

Jenny Hurley, Sugar Land, TX (8/9/2007 7:23:07 AM)

Churches don't pay taxes and they collect a lot of money, not only from their flock but also from Bush's Faith Based Initiative. I have seen F B I lists where large Catholic & Baptist churches are given $1 million to teach abstinence, which does not work, and $1 million for the few who even go to these classes is not very cost effective. It is CHURCH effective. And how do they decide that it is okay to give a million to their church but not to mine?

Many times these prisoners are given EXTRA PERKS to be part of the Faith Based groups. BUT, the BIG THING is that IF A CHURCH CANNOT HELP PEOPLE WITHOUT BIG TAX MONEY -- ARE THEY REALLY A CHURCH OF GOD?

Add Your Comment
In order to post a comment on this article, you must sign in to Tulsaworld.com. If you do not have a site account, you can create an account for free.