A Louisiana judge is allowing convicted criminals to skip community service if they get their COVID vaccine - including one defendant originally charged with rape.
Judge Fred Crifasi is allowing individuals on probation to skip their community service hours if they get the coronavirus vaccine, according to court records obtained by WBRZ, a local affiliate of ABC
Judge Fred Crifasi is permitting offenders sentenced to between four and 33 hours community service by his 19th Judicial District Court to opt out if they get the jab, according to court records obtained by WBRZ, a local affiliate of ABC.
Papers seen by the TV station included details of one unnamed suspect originally charged with second-degree rape.
Those allegations were later downgraded to misdemeanor sexual battery charges, with paperwork explaining how the criminal was given the option of a vaccine over community service during a probation review.
It said: 'Defendant owes 33 hrs of CSW (community service work), court will allow proof of vaccine in lieu of remaining CSW hours.'
Another piece of documentation showed a second criminal being offered the vaccine option, although further details of their conviction were not shared. It is unclear how many people have taken up Crifasi's vaccine offer.
Judge Crifasi's decision comes as the state sees one of its highest surges in COVID-19 cases and continues to have one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country.
East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore supported Judge Crifasi's offer and said it's not uncommon for judges to offer alternatives to community service like getting vaccinated.
'Judges do innovative things like this all the time. For example, you have probably seen or heard in the past the judge would allow your donation of blood instead of community service work or instead of payment of the fine. If a judge is going to make this offer, I think it's a reasonable one.'
At least two offenders have been given the offer, including one who was accused of rape
East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore supported Judge Crifasi's offer and said it's not uncommon for judges to offer alternatives to community service like getting vaccinated
Some in East Baton Rouge don't want to give Judge Crifasi's offer a shot.
Jarrett Ambeau, a local defense attorney, said, 'I don't think the government is necessarily the right entity to be involved in me injecting something into my body. Judge Crifasi himself, individually, is incredibly fair. The point is when a government actor steps in to ask you to do something like, 'Will I suffer for not doing it?' And that is the question.'
District Attorney Moore said that offenders who don't want the vaccine could simply refuse it, adding, 'These judges in these circumstances are being totally reasonable, but I do understand that someone may think that way. And if that's the case, don't get vaccinated.'
Inmates in state prisons are also being given an incentive to get inoculated, the Department of Corrections told WBRZ. Inmates getting the shot are given $5 in 'canteen credit.' About 68 percent of inmates were fully vaccinated as of Tuesday, which is double the state's overall vaccination rate of
