When reviewing background checks most criminal records reveal a commonplace disposition. We find when reviewing the criminal records that jail sentences can range from suspended sentences and deferred sentences, to fines, a little bit of jail time, or lengthy prison sentences, depending on the crime. This, of course, is when the suspect is found guilty, as opposed to the ones where the case is dismissed or the district attorney’s office doesn’t move forward to trial. In that case the disposition is listed as Nolle Prosequi.
One of the more interesting aspects of criminal background checks is to find the disposition listed is “sentenced to prayer.” I have seen this sentence more than a few times. By no means is this a prevalence criminal sentence, but it does come up. Obviously, it is for the more minor infractions. Writing a bad check, public disturbances, assorted misdemeanors. I have yet to see one where a convicted armed robber has been sentenced to prayer.
At first I viewed this sentence with skepticism, but then the more I thought about it the more sense it made. I thought at first that there is really no way to monitor the convicted party to see how long he prayed, how intensely he prayed, or if in fact he prayed at all. I thought probably someone who broke the law would not be inclined to pray as penance for the crimes committed.
But the more I thought about it, I considered that the Judge, having the defendant before him had a pretty good read on that person. He may have asked the defendant questions about his own spiritual beliefs, which in turn may have prompted him to sentence the defendant to prayer. The background checks of course would not show the interchange between the judge and the defendant, so the judge’s questions are jsut my assumption.
So with that in mind I realized the when one prays one focuses on issues beyond himself. One looks deeper into situations and in a focused mode may come up with answers he would otherwise not find, given all of life’s distractions. After all, no matter what set of beliefs you have or what religion you follow, prayer is the act of focusing on issues larger than yourself. And when focused in prayer, or deep contemplation for the more secular minded, the defendant would then reexamine his actions and perhaps see the error of his ways. He would try to amend his behavior and be less inclined to commit another crime.
Or not. But in any event, upon reviewing background checks, I find “sentenced to prayer” a most interesting sentence.
