Double number of ex-cons join the US army

[unhappycamper]

Double number of ex-cons join the US army
Elana Schor in Washington
The Guardian,
Tuesday April 22 2008

The US army doubled its use of "moral waivers" for enlisted soldiers last year to cope with the demands of the Iraq war, allowing sex offenders, people convicted of making terrorist threats, and child abusers into the military, new records released yesterday showed.

The army gave out 511 moral waivers to soldiers with felony convictions last year. Criminals got 249 army waivers in 2006, a sign that the demand for US forces in Iraq has forced a sharp increase in the number of criminals allowed on the battlefield.

The felons accepted into the army and marines included 87 soldiers convicted of assault or maiming, 130 convicted of non-cannabis-related drug offences, seven convicted of making terrorist threats, and two convicted of indecent behaviour with a child. Waivers were also granted to 500 burglars and thieves, 19 arsonists and nine sex offenders.

The new data were released by the oversight committee of the House of Representatives. Henry Waxman, the Democratic chairman of the oversight panel, said that while "providing opportunities to individuals who have served their sentences and rehabilitated themselves" is important, the waivers are a sign that the US military is stretched too thin.

The number of moral waivers in the military, mostly for misdemeanours such as speeding fines, reached 34,476 in 2006, or nearly 20% of all enlisted soldiers, according to the Palm Centre at the University of California. Recruits with felony convictions are more likely than other soldiers to drop out or be released from the military.


Rest of article at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/22/usa.iraq

[mrcheerful]

1. I guess someone forgot to check history as every war america has been involved with

when people didn't enlist in large enough numbers or whenever there was a shortage of bodies, convicts were then allowed to enlist. But then what is it with this belief that convicts shouldn't be able to re-enter society with their full rights restored like the constitution says? Because the republicons told people that a person can't change so therefore its a foregone conclusion that once a con always a con, is that it? So because a percentage of people can't or refuse to live as law abiding citizens all people who are convicted of a crime should be treated the same? How about those who get caught up in the system, either through bad legal representation or being tricked into admitting a crime they didn't commit or because the jury didn't believe the accused? What about the plea bargain and the way its been over used against poor folks? After all how many people were freed, after DNA testing came out, of crimes they didn't commit but were convicted anyhow? Do you actually trust the justice system that much?