By Cathy Higgins
BAY MINETTE, Ala. — It has only been a few weeks since the Bay Minette City Council decided to send the proposed Operation ROC (Recover Our Community) program to the Alabama Attorney General’s Office for review. But Bay Minette Police Chief Michael Rowland is still getting input on it.
During last week’s regular bi-monthly meeting of Bay Minette’s Project Safe Neighborhood, Rowland told those present that he continuously receives emails and other reading materials from all over the country about the proposed faith-based sentencing alternative.
“What I’ve found out is that there’s other people doing similar things,” he said at the meeting.
As previously reported, Operation ROC was developed after members of the Bay Minette community approached Rowland about crime prevention, on the heels of a drug bust this past spring. Out of that came a collaborative idea among church leaders to offer an alternative to jail time and a fine for misdemeanors that would entail a one-year sentence, in which those convicted would instead commit to regularly attending church for that year. Earlier this month, the city council voted to send the proposal to the state for review.
Prior to that, Operation ROC gained national attention when the American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter to city officials opposing its constitutionality in regard to religious freedom.
“Those who are non-supporters haven’t seen the program,” Rowland said at last week’s meeting.
The group discussed the idea that faith-based programs are nothing new to municipalities, as ties to them seem strengthen the chances of an organization receiving a state or federal grant.
Candi Lake of Huntington College also pointed out another faith-based program currently administered in a number of municipalities.
“I’ve done a prison ministry,” she said at the meeting.
As for Operation ROC, Rowland explained that three elements are required to ensure its viability:
· That it be a voluntary program to both implement and participate in.
· That it gives the option to attend any place of worship of any faith.
· If the person sentenced opts out, they receive a comparable alternative that would not create a finanicial burden on them.
The police chief added that once the attorney general renders an opinion on Operation ROC, plans should proceed in offering it as one alternative to misdemeanor sentencing in municipal court.
“If we need to make changes to it, we will,” Rowland said.
