First time Offenders

[darkangel]

What do you all think about giving young first time Offenders the option of going into the Military instead of Jail/Prison?

I think it's a good idea. It would cut down on prison population and would surely straighten them out and give them a better chance at life upon their release than jail/prison would. There's many things that they could learn that they wouldn't in jail/prison. It would also cut down the chance of them committing more crimes imo.

 

[dkwrtw]

I've heard of them doing that before, and yeah I think it's a good Idea, they would actually be doing something productive and useful with their time instead of sitting in Jail living off taxpayer dollars.

 

[Ryder]

It sounds like a good idea to me. Not everyone who gets arrested is a bad person.

 

[Kyle B]

I heard of a case where this is done. The offender, who was a juvenile, was given a choice: either he serve x amount of years in prison, or spend a few months in boot camp. If he failed boot-camp, than he would serve 2x years in prison.

The thing is though, what do you do about people who only get sentenced for a misdemeanor?

 

[edgray]

The last thing we need is more military personnel in the world.

 

[ATKU2]

Depends on the offense..

if it is not really serious, then sure, go ahead to military, but if it is like something serious, then go straight to jail/prison.

 

[darkangel]

The last thing we need is more military personnel in the world.

Why's that ed?

 

[Kyle B]

Depends on the offense..

if it is not really serious, then sure, go ahead to military, but if it is like something serious, then go straight to jail/prison.

That's a good point, wouldn't want a murderer within the ranks.

 

[Springsteen]

Depends what the crime was really. If it were murder then no, prison. If it were child abuse/sexual abuse, then no, death penalty. But if it were something like robbing a shop then sure, why not.

 

[edgray]

Why's that ed?

Because they're not defending anyone's freedoms any more. The military was once a noble thing, nowadays it's just a method of expanding corporate empires. The body counts of innocent civilians is getting ridiculous.

Why not put the kids in the police? Make it stricter, make it harder, and make them protect innocent people.

Or even better, why not restructure society to actually stop offending all together. No one is born a criminal, apart from the one in a million psychotic killer.

I'd rather a criminal go to prison than to war to kill innocent people.

 

[darkangel]

I was thinking along the lines of first time NONviolent offenders...

 

[dkwrtw]

Obviously Murderers and whatnot should go to prison, but say someone robs a store or steals a car or some shit, I think the Military would be a good option in that case.

 

[dkwrtw]

Because they're not defending anyone's freedoms any more. The military was once a noble thing, nowadays it's just a method of expanding corporate empires. The body counts of innocent civilians is getting ridiculous.

Why not put the kids in the police? Make it stricter, make it harder, and make them protect innocent people.

Or even better, why not restructure society to actually stop offending all together. No one is born a criminal, apart from the one in a million psychotic killer.

I'd rather a criminal go to prison than to war to kill innocent people.

Ed you can't just restructure society that way, it is impossible to stop people from committing crimes altogether, that would mean changing Human nature, the way we think and feel, it simply cannot be done, as long as there are human beings there will always be a need for prisons, and for a military, and I do believe that some criminals would be far better off serving in the military than in Prison.

 

[darkangel]

Just think about nonviolent first time offenders that did what they did for whatever reason would be much better off in the military with pay and learning skills that will last them a lifetime if they survive any wars that we are in at the time. It would be a choice given to them not made for them.

 

[porterjack]

depends on the crime, vandalism can fairly easily be dealt with imho, the offender works the debt off for the victim

i damage your property so i help fix it

 

[AnitaBeer]

This actually used to be done a lot! My dad had the choice and he went into the Marines. Not sure if that was actually smarter than just going to jail! haha. I think it's a good choice and wish it would be utilized more often today.

 

[dkwrtw]

depends on the crime, vandalism can fairly easily be dealt with imho, the offender works the debt off for the victim

i damage your property so i help fix it

I think she's referring to a crime that would actually land someone in prison, an offense that would mean just jail time the person should just serve out their time.

 

[Peter Parka]

Depends on the crime obviously. Wouldn't sent a first timer who had just murdered his mother into the military for obvious reasons. For smaller crimes, I'm all for it and even more so for repeat offenders. If prison cant straighten them out a dose in the army might be just the thing and make them do something useful.

 

[darkangel]

This actually used to be done a lot! My dad had the choice and he went into the Marines. Not sure if that was actually smarter than just going to jail! haha. I think it's a good choice and wish it would be utilized more often today.

Yes I had a friend who took advantage of the Military option decades ago and he wound up becoming a small business owner.

I think she's referring to a crime that would actually land someone in prison, an offense that would mean just jail time the person should just serve out their time.

Yes I thought that was clear...

Depends on the crime obviously. Wouldn't sent a first timer who had just murdered his mother into the military for obvious reasons. For smaller crimes, I'm all for it and even more so for repeat offenders. If prison cant straighten them out a dose in the army might be just the thing and make them do something useful.

I did say nonviolent. And you're right a stint in the service would benefit both the offender and our Countries.

 

[dkwrtw]

Depends on the crime obviously. Wouldn't sent a first timer who had just murdered his mother into the military for obvious reasons. For smaller crimes, I'm all for it and even more so for repeat offenders. If prison cant straighten them out a dose in the army might be just the thing and make them do something useful.

This is how I feel too, people who keep getting locked up for petty crimes are far more likely to change their ways after being put to hard work and possibly life risking situations in the military.