Army, Marines Allow More Felons to Enlist

Under pressure to increase their numbers, the Army and Marine Corps have sharply raised the number of recruits with felony convictions they are admitting to the services. In data released by a congressional committee, it shows that the number of soldiers admitted to the Army with felony records jumped from 249 in 2006 to 511 in 2007. The number of Marines with felonies rose from 208 to 350. The bulk of the crimes involved were burglaries, other thefts and drug offenses. There were nine involved in sex crimes and six involved in manslaughter or vehicular homicide convictions. Several dozen Army and Marine recruits had aggravated assault or robbery convictions, including incidents involving weapons. I think the service can rehabilitate these men better than any prison can.