The Constable Who Preached Instead of Punched
In a small Washington town, one officer’s radical experiment in restorative justice is turning criminals into church members—and neighbors are taking notice.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
YAKIMA VALLEY, April 21.—This town has an officer who does not believe in sending lawbreakers to jail provided they show a disposition to reform.
A year ago William Urban was elected constable in Yakima Valley's court. When he took charge the same day he made a resolution that he would never be instrumental in sending a man to jail if there was any chance of attracting a man to reform. The officer has kept his promise and believes that he accomplishes more for justice than any other officer in the state.
Whenever Urban arrests a man he asks him if he wants to join the church. If the man shows a disposition to reform he is treated with consideration, and the arrest shows leniency. If the lawbreaker has no desire to become a church member he is given the full limit of the law.
There is an altar in Urban's court, and it is nothing unusual to see Urban kneeling in prayer with some man who has violated the law since taking charge of his office. Since then Urban has brought over one hundred people to renounce their evil ways and become useful members of the church; a majority of these reformed men have remained firm in the faith, and they now look upon this unassuming evangelist as their patron saint.
Not long ago a man was arrested by Urban who was charged with the crime of beating his wife. The man was taken into court and asked if he would reform if released and allowed to return and support his family. The man was incensed and said he would not live with his under any circumstances. He was sent to jail, and the next day was given another opportunity to turn over a new leaf. The man promised to return and join the church. He became a member of Urban's congregation the following Sunday, and today is a devoted member. He provides for his family and has the respect of all his neighbors, which he had never had before.
Urban five years ago joined the Free Will Baptist church, and is now a deacon in that denomination. Many who differ in religion from Urban respect him for his work among the criminal class, and they do all they can to assist him in his work.
William Urban’s 1905 experiment in Yakima Valley prefigures modern restorative justice models that prioritize rehabilitation over incarceration. While today we debate bail reform and diversion programs, Urban’s approach—linking moral reform directly to legal leniency—highlights a long-standing tension in American law enforcement between punitive justice and social welfare.
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