Certainly if the military were open to this suggestion they would not choose those on death row. They would test the general prison population and recruit only those most qualified, in terms of skills, ability and aptitude, who show potential for being good soldiers once they complete basic training.
I dare to say that if this was done nationwide, it would contribute greatly to reforming prisoners. What the military has to offer is a second chance, reprograming and rehabilitation of prisoners. In fact that is what the military already provides to many young men and women who would probably end up in prison if they did not have the good sense and fortune to enlist in the service of their country.
Military life is a good life and if nonviolent prisoners were given a second chance, I believe that there are many who could turn their lives around and make good soldiers. The discipline and respect for authority which is instilled into every soldier who goes through basic training is the exact behavior modification that prisoners need to be able to return to society and lead productive lives free of crime.
So, yes, I affirm that making good soldiers out of convicts would not only help end the prison overcrowding problem in Alabama, but would do the same for every state in the nation. In fact, I think instead of sending nonviolent criminals to prison, judges should order them to do military service. After all, military service is a form of public service and many people convicted of minor crimes are ordered to do public service all the time.
What appears on the surface to be a bad idea, might not be so bad after all. If such a concept could be made to work instead of having overcrowded prisons we would have a rehabilitated population of able bodied men and women, much like in Robert Aldrich's classic World War II action dramaThe Dirty Dozen, except these new citizen soldiers would number in the thousands!
During the Civil War it was thought that blacks would not make good soldiers. But as the recent historically accurate Hollywood movie Glory illustrated, a black regiment was every bit as brave and courageous as any white regiment. Similarly I'm sure good citizen soldiers could be made out of prisoners, if but judges had the courage to sentence them to do military service and the military had the courage to take on the challenge of their rehabilitation.
Perhaps there is not time to do this before we go to war with Iraq. But maybe there is time to incorporate rehabilitated prisoners into our Armed Forces before we go to war with North Korea and its communist ally, Red China.
Sincerely,
Terry Lynch
Date: 8 Jan., 2003
Do you have a beef? Send your comments, opinions, letters or other remarks to Byteland. In doing so, you agree that all submissions may be reprinted, edited and/or published without compensation or restriction whatsoever. Warning: If you send hate mail or other trash we may publish it and you agree to release Byteland.org, its agents and representative, from all liability, whatsoever, and to be totally responsible for your own statements and/or actions, including but not limited to slanderous or libelous remarks! You also agree to release Byteland.org, its agents and representatives, from any claims of slander, libel or other damages whatsoever, in regard to reprint, publication or editorial comments or usage with respect to any material you submit for publication.