California forces God on addicts...no more

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moonbogg

moonbogg

Lifer
Jan 8, 2011
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http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Atheist-inmate-settles-for-1-95-million-over-5822767.php

“They told me, 'Anything can be your higher power. Fake it till you make it,’” he recalled.
Hazle refused and was declared in violation of parole and sent back to prison for 100 days. Seven years and two federal court rulings later, he and his lawyers announced a $1.95 million settlement Tuesday of a suit against the state and its contractor, WestCare California, for wrongful incarceration in violation of his religious liberty.

It seems that a secular program is finally offered as an option. For a long time, if you get arrested on drug and alcohol related charges, you are given the option to attend faith based, 12 step programs instead of going to prison.
 
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moonbogg

moonbogg

Lifer
Jan 8, 2011
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This was a clear violation of the constitutional requirement to separate church from state. Finally someone had the balls to stick it to them and make things right. They are a little richer today ($2m minus taxes and lawyer fees leaves him with some lunch money for a while)
 
bshole

bshole

Diamond Member
Mar 12, 2013
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Good christ, 2 million fucking dollars for 100 days?!!! You have got to be kidding. Where the hell do I sign up? I will do 3 times that for 1 million.
 
moonbogg

moonbogg

Lifer
Jan 8, 2011
10,731
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bshole said:
Good christ, 2 million fucking dollars for 100 days?!!! You have got to be kidding. Where the hell do I sign up? I will do 3 times that for 1 million.
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He was in for a year for his crime first, then paroled on the condition that he fake belief in a higher power as required by his 12 step program. It isn't actually required, but hey, he got $2m.
 
hal2kilo

hal2kilo

Lifer
Feb 24, 2009
25,701
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moonbogg said:
He was in for a year for his crime first, then paroled on the condition that he fake belief in a higher power as required by his 12 step program. It isn't actually required, but hey, he got $2m.
Click to expand...

12 step programs success rates are highly overated.
 
alzan

alzan

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May 21, 2003
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Awesome. WestCare is on the hook for $925,000 because (from the article): "WestCare said it never received the corrections department’s order and doesn’t understand the term “alternative non-religious program.”"

I wonder if they understand the term now?

Asshats

I'm not saying that meth, alcohol, heroin, etc. aren't dangerous substances, just that it's the addictive personality that's the real problem. One can be addicted to sex, cigarettes, chocolate, et al; it's not necessarily the substance to which one is addicted.

Hazle got it right when he said in the article that he had to get stronger to stay off meth.
 
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theeedude

theeedude

Lifer
Feb 5, 2006
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alzan said:
Awesome. WestCare is on the hook for $925,000 because (from the article): "WestCare said it never received the corrections department’s order and doesn’t understand the term “alternative non-religious program.”"

I wonder if they understand the term now?

Asshats
Click to expand...

There are 925,000 George Washingtons explaining it to them slowly.
 
bshole

bshole

Diamond Member
Mar 12, 2013
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Well he shouldn't get the money, the victim of his crimes should get it.
 
alzan

alzan

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May 21, 2003
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bradley said:
The only thing outrageous about this story is the settlement.
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Agreed, it should have been more and it should've been leveled at WestCare board of directors salaries; garnish their wages for their idiotic policy.
 
Fern

Fern

Elite Member
Sep 30, 2003
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I find this difficult to believe.

I live in NC, in the so-called Bible belt, and our addiction programs are not religious.

Fern
 
MrPickins

MrPickins

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May 24, 2003
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Fern said:
I find this difficult to believe.

I live in NC, in the so-called Bible belt, and our addiction programs are not religious.

Fern
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Any 12 step program involves religion. AA being one of the big offenders.

So, yes, they are.
 
Fern

Fern

Elite Member
Sep 30, 2003
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MrPickins said:
Any 12 step program involves religion. AA being one of the big offenders.

So, yes, they are.
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No, our programs are not.

Our required program is not a 12 step program. ( We don't actually have a required program per se. There are numerous programs offered by licensed professionals that one may choose from, and this is in a small community.)

Fern
 
surfsatwerk

surfsatwerk

Lifer
Mar 6, 2008
10,110
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MrPickins said:
Any 12 step program involves religion. AA being one of the big offenders.

So, yes, they are.
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Technically "AA" is not associated with any treatment facility, the facilities just use the program.

An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Traditions

Edit: Around here judges send people to AA all the time to get a card signed as part of probation. Always wondered about the legality of it all.
 
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moonbogg

moonbogg

Lifer
Jan 8, 2011
10,731
3,440
136
surfsatwerk said:
Technically "AA" is not associated with any treatment facility, the facilities just use the program.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Traditions

Edit: Around here judges send people to AA all the time to get a card signed as part of probation. Always wondered about the legality of it all.
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A shit load of people get sent to AA from the courts day in and day out. I'm curious to see what other option or program they come up with. This sets a precedent, so it might take hold.

Zorkorist said:
Plus, God sucks.

-John
Click to expand...

Not sure why, but I like you.
 
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