Jail won't baptize
repentant inmate

Ramzee Johnson seeks baptism (courtesy: Bakersfield Californian)

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A California man who killed another man in a gunfight is looking to repent of his evil deed and be baptized.

There's only one problem – the local jail housing him is denying his request.

"I would like to do it before I go to prison," Ramzee Johnson told the Bakersfield Californian, saying he's getting daily death threats from gang members associated with his victim. "I might not make it to prison."

Johnson has been studying the Bible recently with David Garner, a minister at the Oildale Church of Christ who thinks the Lerdo Jail's refusal to allow the baptism is denying Johnson the ability to be saved.

Pastor David Garner

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"If a person isn't baptized they won't get their sins forgiven," Garner told the paper. "A bathtub would work fine, just so long as they're covered in water."

Garner even has offered to bring a blow-up pool to the jail and pay security and transportation costs to have officers bring Johnson to his church for the baptism, both of which were rejected by officials.

Garner believes the refusal is a violation of Johnson's right to practice his faith.

"We don't have the staff and resources to accommodate every religious practice," said Kern County sheriff's Lt. Vetrice Mitchell. "We don't do baptism here. ... We've never done it. It's always been the policy here."

Dale Scadron, the supervising sheriff's chaplain and a Pentecostal pastor, told the paper he doesn't agree baptism is absolutely necessary for a person's salvation.

"My problem is that people here in jail with little hope are being told they now have no hope," Scadron said. "Now their concern is that if I'm in jail and can't be baptized and die tomorrow, I will go to hell eternally."

He stresses the logistical problems at local lockup.

"We're just not set up for it. Our chapels are multipurpose rooms. They're being utilized by teachers and others. It's not like prisons where they have an actual chapel," Scadron said. "It's a security issue."

Ironically, while the Lerdo Jail is refusing Johnson's request, baptisms are allowed at state prisons, which recognize five major faith groups: Christian Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Muslims and American Indian religion adherents.

"Inmates can practice religion. So does that include baptism, praying, sitting in their sweat lodges or facing east to Mecca? Yeah, all of that is included," California Department of Corrections spokeswoman Terry Thornton told the Californian. "Religion does have a beneficial effect on an inmate's behavior and possible future behavior."