Prison tends to make young offenders future prisoners. Community service and counseling seems a more reasonable option.

Did he accidentally cause a death? The article is vague.

Completely inappropriate. This will be over turned. I agree, prison isn't necessary, but the state does NOT get to force religion into the lives of citizens.

Church???? What the @!$%#?!!!!!!! I thought this country had a separation of church and state!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The judge's decision/sentence can indeed be challenged in court based upon the principles of separation of church and state.

The point of church is to want to be there, to choose to be there and not forced to be there by an outside source, MORE SO a court of law. Very unconstitutional, in every sense of the word.

So the Judge should give him the ten years in prison ? it was one or the other try watching the video lot more info than the story.Just because he has to go to a church every sunday does not make him a christain I would rather spend 20 years going on sunday than 10 in state pen.

I wished they did that for those who don't commit crimes that shouldn't be on the books anyway. Like all of the drug offenders who have never hurt anyone.

They get life in prison and the police only target black and latino areas. When they know all of the drugs are in white colleges.
This has been going on for years.

Not to say that whites need to go to jail for it either.

But, the justice system has been raping blacks and latinos for things that they have the right to do anyway.

You can't smoke weed!!!!!
God didn't make you me!!!!
Therefore you can't choose for me.

As long as you don't disrespect or cause harm to anyone you have the right to choose for yourself!!!!

Enough of the drug charge crap!!!!!

I think that judge is a moron. CHurch and state seperate? Not in Oklahoma apparently. Ive never heard of a judge saying something like this. @!$%# I have a couple of people I would love to see go away, but not sure if its worth ten years of God being shoved down my throat!!!! This is the most ridiculous thing ive ever heard. And i was joking about what I said of a couploe of folk, just in case mediators or other people get their panties in a bunch!!

This is insane. Here we have a Bible Belt state sentencing a felon to 10 years of church as a sentence? What kind of sentence is that? I hope the ACLU contests this sentence and the judge. What happened to the separation of Church and State? It appears to be a violation of the US Constitution.

I think this minister, I mean judge, was a total idiot, and calling the judge an idiot is insulting idiots! What does 10 years of church mean, some people do that kind of time in church and don't consider it punishment. Is this kid going to be dusting off bibles or attending service every morning, all morning? What the Hell is that about??

A sentence that does not include church would have been more appropriate, such as helping the underpriviledged, community service or delivering meals to shut ins. By the way, he judge should go to jail for this sentencing!!!

This is yet another reason to get rid of two useless things that don't work - the juvenile justice system, and the state of Oklahoma!

Let's step back and look at this from another angle. There is no separation of church and state in the government. Yes, there is SUPPOSED to be a separation, but we still use the bible in court, for inauguration etc. The judge is not the idiot, the government is at fault because it has not set clear boundaries for the separation of church and state.

That said, I don't think that he should have chosen "10 years of church" for a sentence, but I do agree that the boy shouldn't go to prison. I think some serious community service (I mean more than picking up garbage) and making him random drug test isn't a bad idea. We also have to remember that this was a terrible accident, and his friend was in the car by his own free will. These types of accidents happen all of the time, all parties need to take some responsibility. I hope both families come to an agreement and figure something out.

Actually, we don't use bibles in courtrooms any more; you simply raise your right hand and affirm to tell the truth. Additionally, a bible is not used at swearing-in ceremonies either, unless the principal wishes it. The government need not set clear boundaries for separation; a simple reading of the Constitution is all that is needed.

forcing a religion down a kid's throat.....hmmmmm...sounds illegal.

When the state does it, it doesn't SOUND illegal, it IS illegal.

I am forwarding this article to the Okie ACLU for action. This demeans our constitution and is a blatant federal violation. Where's Inhoff when he is really needed? Pollute the air, land and water no big deal to him. I thought Okies were against Sharia Law and passed a bill banning its practice.

Intellect-If you had run the video, you would have found that the ACLU is filing suit next week.

If was on my PC I would have but I am using my smart phone.

JJ and Intellect - the ACLU is filing a COMPLAINT with the Oklahoma Council on Judicial Complaints. They can't actually file a suit unless Tyler Alred agrees to fight it.

However, if his friend had worn his seat-belt, we wouldn't be discussing this.

3rdview - you're right - a seatbelt would have prevented the passenger from being ejected and, quite likely, from being killed.

These Okies must be shown they cannot co-mingle Church and State to suit their personal desires. I would suspect this kid was a relative or friend of some law enforcement or judicial system in OK. This is a first, to my knowledge, in any state judicial office. I am still stunned this sentence was not contested by the DA's Office. This is just too much to comprehend.

If you were to put this kid in another state or maybe another county in OK such as Tulsa County I do not believe this sentence would have been given. He would have been sentenced to a juvenile detention center due to the seriousness of this offense. The young man was responsible for his passengers wearing a seat belt just as we all are hence the manslaughter charge.

Did no one watch the video? He was charged with DWUI.. I didn't see where it said his friend wasn't wearing a seat belt.. I believe he wasn't based off the fact he was ejected, however y'all make that assumption because it doesn't state that he was or wasn't.. His friend shares no responsibility for dumb@!$%# getting drunk and going off driving, that was the drivers choice.. He killed his friend no matter how you look at it because he was drunk, and driving all while underage. He pretty much destroyed everyone's lives making that lovely choice, don't ya think..

I can also bet this judge locks up black kids for life for lesser offenses and lets this white boy off with a slap on the wrist.. Someone should look at this judges record on convictions and sentences..

Who is going to watch this @!$%# to make sure he is going to church.. Coddle the little ass munch some more parents next time maybe he will take out a school bus of children and they can all pray to make it better.

Basically the judge kissed his ass and said all hail the drunk 17 year old driver, everyone should model their lives after this boy because he is a gawd..

I forgot to add the link in my post to show you what actually happened. Click Here to read for yourself..

Intellect-1949393- His parents asked for this punishment because they couldn't stand to lose their child..

Calico - comment 5.8 - No assumption made - if you're wearing a seatbelt, you DON'T get ejected!

Ever heard of a seat-belt malfunction? My cousin was rear-ended and it snapped the metal that held the end of the belt. She is a 100 pounds soaking wet.. The accident broke my neck the impact was so bad. So before you assume verify..

I never doubted he was ejected but the article never stated if he was or wasn't wearing a seat-belt. AND other articles state he died to due to the injuries sustained in the accident and never does it state he was ejected from the car..

and that doesn't take away the fact his idiot friend was drunk..

There is nothing accidental about driving drunk and getting into a wreck and killing the passenger...

He was an underage, drunk driver. And now he's a murderer.

While you say religion is just another form of slavery there just may be an addict, (vice not important), somewhere in the world turning to religion instead of their addiction! And yes, some people do use religion as a crutch, but that doesn't mean that everyone that's religious does! And I sir, find your comment prejudicial as I am Christian and am far from feeble minded!!! Despite what you may think, not every Christian or Catholic person out there subscribes to the idea of creationism, such as myself. This is the reason I strongly resent your comment, and think that closed minded people such as yourself are, to use your own words, "feeble minded"!

Religion being forced on someone against their will....now where have I seen that before? Just didn't think it would come to America.

How about every baptism of an infant, or traditional bris....ever!

Well Argues, that's an intellectually dishonest comparison since it isn't a state actor with government authority ordering those babies baptized, but the personal choice of their parent/guardians.

Who grants the parent the power of decision making over the infant, hmm? Could it be....the government?

Nature.

The government stays out of it, unless there's a risk to the child. Your logic is flipped backwards. The government doesn't/can't grant parental rights, it can only take them away.

Besides, the government doesn't dictate to the parents that they must baptize their kids. That's a personal decision of the parents, that the government can't interfere with because of the 1st Amendment. Can you please give me an example of the government forcing a parent to baptize their child???

Sheesh. I think you need to find a sport you're better at.

The quote under the video sure sounds like Christianity to me, "Lord and Savior". The court system is not supposed to be concerned with yours or the church's sense of right and wrong, only with what the law says is right or wrong. Religion may be OK for someone that wants it, but forcing it on someone is just making it a punishment and something this kid will rebel against. Secular government should be dealing out secular sentences, not trying to evangelize.

"I hope and pray that church will give him his lord and savior, and make a difference in his life," said Oklahoma judge Mike Norman

Clearly, the boy was "sentenced" to a specific church of a specific denomination (I'm going to take a wild guess that it's the same church attended by the judge).

It may be, too that he will be condemned to regular reading of the bible where he will learn that slavery, rape, genocide, infanticide and other horrifics are encouraged and applauded (in fact, ordered) by heisthatheis.

If that doesn't save him, nothing will.

Yeah, hundreds of years ago.

The govenment should NEVER force citizens to go to church or to any house of worship. That would be imposing religion on someone. What is this judge, the Christian Taliban?? If a Muslim did what this boy did would the judge send him to a Mosque or jail or if he were a Jew would he be forced to go to Temple or jail? I suspect the judge might have a bias on that question!

In the United States of America we have freedom of religion and freedom from religion. The judge should uphold the constitution of the land but he went way beyond the scope of the law.

Many are using the word "force" as if the kid did not have a choice in the matter. The kid did not have to agree to the 10 years of church. Prior to a judge making a sentence, both sides (prosecution and defense) set forth their positions on what an appropriate sentence should be. This requires very detailed sentencing memos that include investigation & interview by the police, letters of recommendation, victim impact statements and statements by the defendant. In order to get the sentence he did, the kid had to have agreed to it. Prison, community service & drug rehab, church could have all been on the table. This is the sentence that was chosen with input from the parties and the victim's parents.

Of course the kids going to agree to it.. Who is going to babysit him while he is "attending" church.. Bet you money he will be out getting drunk again in no time at all.. I don't believe for a minute he sees this as a punishment but is relieved the judge is stupid enough to let him off with nothing..

Has anyone stating how good a sentence this is and how he doesn't deserve to be punished understand that the kid was driving while drunk when he wrecked the vehicle and killed the passenger?

Since when are drunk drivers who kill people martyrs?

BWil, you seem to be such an optimistic maybe you should take this kid in and nurture him into being one of yours. There is a separation of Church and State that has been violated. Bottom line and this must be corrected no matter what Believer stuff you try to iterate on this site.

I would suspect you would also wear a side arm to church and believe in capital punishment or "Cowboy" law. Actually you would do better to find a Believer site to peddle your rhetoric to other Believers. You would do much better and actually feel better having all of those Believers agreeing with your rhetoric. I does not work for me and I would suspect over 80% of those posting on the Vine. Like has always been said learn to choose your fights and when to run.

Forcing church on someone is NOT going to teach them love or anything good.

On the other hand, it may teach him that disobedient children should be taken to the edge of town and stoned to death.

Don't you christians ever read that book?