AL Prisoners Sue Over Religious Twelve-Step Programs

Al.com reported yesterday that five Alabama prisoners have filed suit in federal court because they are required to participate in Christian-based drug treatment programs. A settlement of a suit five years ago ordered prison officials to offer alternatives to faith-based 12-step programs. The Department of Corrections claims that the former settlement only requires them to offer alternatives when at least 25 prisoners request it. The ACLU of Alabama which represents the prisoners argues that inmates are not informed of the secular alternative programs, so the prison system has no idea how many inmates desire to enroll in it. The suit seeks an order mandating alternative programs and notice of them to prisoners. It also seeks an order to prevent punishment of inmates who refuse to participate in the religious programs. [Thanks to Joel L. Sogol via Law & Religion listserv for the lead.]