Kent Hovind Advocates for Abolishing U.S. Prison System

Creationism evangelist Kent Hovind, founder of Creation Science Evangelism, recently argued that the modern American prison system should be abolished. In a resurfaced January 2026 podcast interview with Pastor James C. Johnson, Hovind characterized the current system as costly and ineffective, asserting that it lacks a basis in biblical law.

Drawing on Old Testament passages such as Exodus 22, Hovind proposed that the justice system should instead rely on restitution, corporal punishment, or capital punishment. He suggested that these methods would be more cost-effective and would provide victims with a greater sense of closure. Hovind, who served nearly nine years in federal prison following a 2006 conviction on tax-related charges, stated that under his interpretation of biblical law, incarceration should be reserved only for medical quarantine.

Representatives for Hovind declined to provide further comment on the remarks. The resurfaced comments have drawn attention due to Hovind’s history with the federal justice system, which included a 10-year sentence for failing to pay payroll taxes, structuring financial transactions, and obstructing tax laws.