Alcoholics Anonymous is admittedly a part of a religious cult. How can the courts justify forcing people to attend these meetings as part of their sentencing?
2007-07-16 05:56:39 · 16 answers · asked by bongernet 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
The Second and Seventh Federal District Courts, The New York State Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of Tennessee have all declared AA at least "religious in nature" and a violation of the Establishment Clause.
Politicians and judges like sentencing people for three reasons: 1) they are members themselves, or 2) it give them the appearance that they are "tough on crime", yet compassionate 3) mandating AA meetings keeps the offenders busy for awhile without costing the state the amount of money it takes to warehouse them in jail.
2007-07-16 09:21:03 · answer #1 · answered by raysny 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Alcoholism is a problem that's very hard to treat. If someone commits crimes because he's an alcoholic, the judge wants him to get on the wagon so he will be less likely to commit more crimes.
A judge can't -sentence- someone to detox or to AA. What he does is offer to suspend part of the sentence if the offender will voluntarily do something to help himself. AA seems to be the solution that works best, so the judge points the person towards AA and offers an incentive.
I don't think AA is a religious cult. Part of the 12-step process is believing in a higher power, but the AA doesn't preach about this higher power, they leave each member to figure out that part for himself--so you can be Christian or Muslim or Jewish or whatever. Admittedly it would be difficult for a very devoted atheist.
But still, nobody can -force- someone to join AA, and courts don't do that.
2007-07-16 06:03:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Who admits that AA is a religious cult? I don't, and I've been a member for years. I am not religious at all, but this has never been a problem in any way, and my participation in the group saved my life.
Moreover, I am a lawyer, and I have not heard of courts sentencing people to AA. I have heard of them requiring people to go to either treatment or jail. People understandably chose treatment . . . and the treatment programs suggest AA meetings. Why? Well, because people who CONSISTENTLY follow the AA program get sober more often than people who don't. What's wrong with that?
2007-07-16 14:20:12 · answer #3 · answered by Helen W. 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They do it because for the most part judges and lawyers, like many people, are ignorant of what alcoholism is and what AA’s Primary Purpose is.
Like AA or not - Alcoholics Anonymous is for Alcoholics – DUH! - and to send people to that Fellowship whether they are alcoholic or not is just plain irresponsible.
It doesn’t do the non-alcoholic offenders any good because they cannot become members nor recover from an illness they do not actually have – and it doesn’t do AA any good because now AA has become top-heavy with non-alcoholics who THINK they HAVE become members. So now AA is running wild with folks admitting they will "NEVER RECOVER" - and that's OK with them - and the judges just keep on pumping up the AA fellowship with more and more defendants who not only don't want to be there - and are useless dead weights to that altruistic Fellowship - but have NO REASON to be there either. And they wonder why AA’s broad success rate has gone from 75% to 5% - because it is FULL of people who can’t recover from alcoholism – they haven’t GOT alcoholism! They got INDICTMENTS!
The respondent who said they should go to jail - has got it RIGHT! AA is not punishment. It's a solution for a very few people who are true alcoholics. It is meant to serve as a way out of alcoholism for them - not a way out of jail-time for alcohol abusers, pot users, drug addicts and drinking & drugging misbehaving idiots.
It is insane! The judges are INSANE!
Peace,
Danny S
http://recoveredalcoholic.blogspot.com
2007-07-16 13:16:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
This is grossly unfair to Alcoholics Anonymous. If anyone doesn't want to quit drinking for themselves and themselves alone they will not do so. Alcoholics Anonymous IS NOT a part of a religious 'cult' however the majority of us do believe in God and we have many members who are agnostics and atheist. We do say the lords prayer at meetings and a prayer called the serenity prayer. We are practicing our right to freedom of religion in doing so and no one is under obligation to pray these prayers with us! Speaking for myself alone I resent the Judaical system dumping drunks on us who have no intentions of quitting drinking.
2007-07-16 06:24:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Not a good Q, no star. Somebody asks this every couple of weeks, thinking they are oh so clever. And the answer is....you're anonymous because you don't use your last name.
2016-05-19 02:15:47 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The court system DOES NOT MAKe going to AA a part of the sentence. It is an option only in lieu of other sentencing recommendations.
2007-07-16 05:59:16 · answer #7 · answered by hexeliebe 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋
I don't know about your courts, but my court, in Delaware, simply states that drug and/or alcohol OF SOME TYPE must be taken. They do not "force" anyone to take a specific style of program, such as AA.
2007-07-16 06:00:09 · answer #8 · answered by Yahzmin ♥♥ 4ever 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Because they mistakenly think that these meetings will "cure" people. I've been there, done that. They try to substitute God for drugs or alcohol. The failure rate is appalling.
2007-07-16 15:41:37 · answer #9 · answered by shermynewstart 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Where's your support to your allegations to AA? I was sentenced by the courts to go to 6 meetings due to my DUI and I never heard any one person admit to AA's affiliation to any religious sect. Most of the people their didn't even go to church. Besides, there is no constitutional amendment of "separation of church and state".
2007-07-16 06:00:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋