Anyone have any data on Amish criminals? Recent talk about the Amish and “Witness” was on this morning got me thinking about if there have been any know murderers or other nefarious Amish folks that had been caught and tried.
What do the Amish do about it? They don’t have police as far as I know and no handguns (do they have rifles? I think they hunt, so they must have rifles or shotguns.). How does Amish law treat Amish criminals?
I’d be surprised if they have never had a murderer or something along those lines, but then I would also be surprised if they broadcast it, from what I gather they are pretty discreet about themselves.
There have been cases of Amish people getting involved in the drug trade, one case where they were allied with some biker gang. They do not get the option of being tried by their own people.
The Amish are US Citizens and subject to US law. They don’t have separate police, courts, or anything like that. If they’re arrested, they get treated like anyone else. There was a recent case in Pennsylvania (IIRC) that convicted a group of Amish men of major cocaine trafficking. They’re now serving their term in prison, just like all the other non-Amish coke dealers.
I am in Iowa and we have a number of Amish in our area, and you wouldn’t believe how suprised I was when some teens were arrested for dealing!
I would think that along with being treated as anyone else would that they would also be booted out of the Amish community.
Damn it all, now I have to go to the Ammana Colonies and get some Dandelion wine! Well, it’s not too far from me, and I could use a nice trip to a quiet town. So I guess I should say thank you and not damn it.
I once read a book about some Amish guy who forsook the Amish community for a life of drugs, crime, and gay orgies. He wound up murdering his own son; however, he had left the community several years prior to murdering his son.
I don’t know the guy’s name or the title of the book offhand. Let me look through my files and I’ll let you know if I come up with anything…
actually, I recall recently an article about problems with the Amish kids in jail. Seems they liked it- no tv at home for example.
don’t recall any data on Amish Serial Killers (another great band name IMHO), but as has been mentioned, they’re citizens of whatever jurisdiction in which they live subject to the same laws and punishments.
(you may be thinking of Native Americans, who, on the reservation are subject to the laws of the reservation.)
Boy are you naive. When I was a kid, my father took us out to an Amish farm to visit some of our relatives. Once us kids were away from our parents, the first thing the Amish kids asked us was “do you city folk know about marijuana?”
People don’t get booted out of the community for those sorts of actions. Even getting “shunned” for religious reasons is pretty rare. I’ll give you an example that happened right around here in Iowa. An Amish kid got ahold of a battery operated portable TV set. After school, a group of kids used to get together and watch TV. When this got around to the Elders, they convened a council and decided to take action against this violation of seclusion from the Englisher world. The Elders came in late one night, and visited the family farm, which raised turkeys by the thousands. The Elders wrung the neck of every single turkey. But they still didn’t get shunned.
Chas, are you sure? Mom does research on the Amish and Mennonites as a hobby, and she says until some age (16, I think) kids are allowed to have electronics, watch TV, listen to radios, etc. It’s not encouraged, but it’s basically ignored. It’s only after becoming an ‘adult’ you have to settle down.
Your description may be accurate of some of the more liberal sects, like the Mennonites, but I’m talking about Old Order Amish. There is quite a difference. The Old Order is VERY strict about such things, and is very conservative.
Oh, I forgot to mention, this incident happened only about 10 years ago, so don’t think this is some draconian punishment from years and years ago.
And BTW, my knowledge of the Amish & Mennonite community doesn’t come as a hobby, it is my heritage (despite my utter disdain for some of their riduculous religious concepts). My father was a Mennonite (but left the community) and my Grandparents were Old Order. This was all probably part of the reason I converted to buddhism.
I heard somewhere that when Amish kids (or at least the guys) turn 18 it’s traditional to allow them a period of
getting their kicks–getting it out of their system as it were–and then they’re welcome to resume traditional Amish life if they wish. Sometimes they’ll spend a few years outside the community where they would presumably be just as susceptible to getting into trouble as anyone else. Perhaps more so, having led a more sheltered childhood than others.
I understand this period is called ‘Herumlaufen’ (literally ‘running around’).
…yeah, that Amish cocaine thinggee happened in the late 90’s and, get this, both of the convicted were named Abner Stoltzfus…but were NOT related…gotta love it!
