Some of Georgia’s counties decided to cut their offenders’ sentences in half if they agreed to get vaccinated.
Those subjected to the incentive are Hall and Dawson’s inmates sentenced to community service.
The judges in these counties will have the option to offer from 20 to 40 hours in credit for any offender that agrees to get inoculated.
“In our judge’s view, every shot in the arm is a service to the community,” Hall County Court Administrator Jason Stephenson said.
“For some offenders, it does seem appropriate to recognize that the time and the cost involved and perhaps lining up childcare, taking time off from work, arranging for transportation, and making it to a vaccination site – not once but twice. This recognizes the commitment they’ve made in doing that.”
Leaders are not pressuring the offenders to get the vaccine but instead, trying to make the qualified ones realize the step’s advantages.
“Somebody mentions 20 hours and that may not sound like a lot, but that half a workweek and if somebody can get a shot instead of doing 20 hours of community service, that is a pretty strong incentive,” Senior Assistant Public Defender Andy Maddox said.
