http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/cd475431a51c434084abf8f5461818f0/NC--Fugitive-Surrender-Day/

Fugitive surrender day is a good idea. But why have two churches as the alternative locations for warrant defaulters to give themselves up at?

Are they seen as neutral locations? Or are the churches part of the charity organising the event?

First of all it is in the South where religion overlaps into everything.

Second, (most) religious people are big on guilt and redemption so they likely figure that criminals would feel safer and have the chance to make it right with god or something. He might feel more comfortable going to a church.

A lot of people think that someone who accepts Jesus will act better than others. If someone "accepts Jesus" in prison, the presumption is that the person will behave and turn his life around with the help of his sky pal and church support. This might be true for some people who can't be trusted to be moral without outside help.

What really bothers me is that the law (and other civic organizations) cozy up to the churches and let them get involved in so much. The line is really blurred in the South. Worse is that everyone just assumes it is appropriate.

If someone is religious, they can come across as having sincerity and humility (at least to many other religious people). This can give him an edge in in whether he is considered rehabilitated or eligible for a lighter sentence.

"Oh, he's a good guy now. He has changed his ways." Yeah, right.

Meanwhile, religion takes the credit for "helping" criminals which gives the religion a foot in the door into the law system. Sometimes it works for good of course, but a lot of the time it is unfair because you know the criminal is lying through his teeth for a religious "get out of jail" perk.