Montana lawmaker offers pain instead of prison

HELENA (AP) — A Montana lawmaker says convicts should be allowed to get out of prison time if they instead agree to the "infliction of physical pain" — an idea that so far is receiving a cool reception.

Republican Rep. Jerry O'Neil is drafting a bill that would allow those convicted of misdemeanors or felonies to negotiate corporal punishment instead of another sentence. The method used to inflict the pain would be decided by a judge.

The veteran lawmaker said Wednesday that he thinks long prison sentences are inhumane.

"Ten years in prison or you could take 20 lashes, perhaps two lashes a yea...