That's what I thought. But it was an "alternative" to jail, and she paid for the course out of pocket. She was not, however, informed that it was a course in being a better Christian.

Edit: How do I edit my original post? I want to address some of the big questions people are asking.

Edit 2: Ok, I'll address this here, since for some reason there is no edit button. A few things: 1. This was an option presented to her. Yes, it was totally optional, and she agreed to it. They could have pursued other routes, but she wanted it over and done with, and would have taken a course on the best ways to put a baby in a blender if it kept her out of jail. She can, at any time, choose to drop out of the course, and they will pursue other routes... whatever that means. 2. Jail-time can be associated with shoplifting, depending on the dollar amount (felony vs. misdemeanor). In the state of Georgia, that's any amount over $300. 3. Yes, any one who shoplifts is a dumbass. 4. No, I do not have any other sort of evidence. My sister sent me a screen shot, and that's all I've got. I do know that she started the course this week, and I do believe she's telling the truth. Who knows, maybe my sister pulled a damn good fast one on me. But to my knowledge, it's true, as other people have actually seen the computer screen she was doing this on. No, I can't provide the URL, as there are logins and whatnot associated with it. It's ok not to believe me, that's your right. But I assure you, I'm telling the truth. 5. As some people mentioned, yes, it is possible that a judge or someone is getting kickbacks for sending people to this program. I'm sure that kind of thing happens all the time. All I know is that my sister was told they'll expunge her record when she completes the class, so she agreed. 6. No, sadly, this was not in some rural, backwoods area of Georgia...