WBRZ: “At least one judge in East Baton Rouge is offering some people on probation the option to get the coronavirus vaccine in place of some of their court-mandated service hours. Court records obtained by WBRZ show Judge Fred T. Crifasi allowed at least two different people the option to take the vaccine in lieu of finishing out their remaining community service hours.”

“Those documents show one of those offenders owed 33 service hours and was allowed the option to skip the remaining hours in exchange for getting the shot. Prosecutors say judges offering unique alternatives to community service is nothing new. ‘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,’ District Attorney Hillar Moore explained. ‘If a judge is going to make this offer, I think it’s a reasonable one.’ Though not everyone in the justice system thinks the incentive is an appropriate offer. ‘I don’t think the government is necessarily the right entity to be involved in me injecting something into my body,’ Defense Attorney Jarrett Ambeau said. ‘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.’ Moore said anyone who’s uncomfortable with the offer can always opt to not take the deal. ‘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.'”