Does Military Service Make the Experience of Prison Less Painful? Voices From Incarcerated Veterans

Abstract

There are more than 100,000 military veterans incarcerated in prisons throughout the United States. Nevertheless, almost nothing is known about these veterans or their incarceration experiences. In this article, we present results from a survey of more than 1,100 inmates in a large state correctional system to determine how inmates who are military veterans compare with inmates who have not served in the military in terms of their willingness to serve alternative sanctions to avoid imprisonment. The data reveal that, with the exception of military service, inmates who are military veterans are significantly less likely than their counterparts who have not served in the military to accept a variety of community sanctions over prison. In addition, Black inmates who have not served in the military are somewhat different than White inmates who have served in the military in those choices. Implications of these findings for future research are discussed. Keywords prison, criminal justice policy, crime control policyFor decades, military service has been viewed as a route through which individuals could improve their life circumstances while serving their country. The military offers stability, training, monetary incentives, and a number of other benefits to those individuals who choose to serve. Service in the military has provided a number of

Hazardous Duty: Investigating Resistance to Police at the Point of Arrest Among Incarcerated Military Veterans

“…Since Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), research on the link between military veteran status and criminal justice system involvement has increased considerably. Informed by several academic disciplines and diverse methodologies, this research has considered a litany of criminal justice outcomes, including police contact (Camins et al, 2021), the likelihood of arrest and subsequent incarceration (Brooke & Gau, 2018; Brooke & Peck, 2019; Greenberg & Rosenheck, 2009, 2012; White et al, 2012), institutional adjustment or misconduct (Brooke, 2020; Drapela et al, 2019; Logan & Pare, 2017; May et al, 2017; Morgan et al, 2019; Stacers & Solinas-Saunders, 2015), and recidivism (Blonigen et al, 2016; Cavanaugh, 2011; Hartley & Baldwin, 2019; Logan et al, 2021a; Timko et al, 2014). Despite the breadth of knowledge regarding justice-involved veterans, scholars have yet to examine an important aspect of the criminal justice process: deference to authority during arrest.…”

Are Jail Sanctions More Punitive Than Community-Based Punishments? An Examination Into the Perceived Severity of Alternative Sanctions in Community Supervision

“…Gender has had an effect in a few studies, with females generally being more amenable than males to serving alternative punishments to avoid prison (Irizarry et al, 2016; May & Wood, 2005; May et al, 2005; Wood & Grasmick, 1999). Other demographic characteristics that have been examined in this research literature sparingly or yielding inconsistent results include age, education, marital and family circumstances, employment status, and military experience (Applegate, 2014; Crouch, 1993; Irizarry et al, 2016; May, Stives, Wells, & Wood, 2017; May & Wood, 2005; May et al, 2005; Petersilia & Deschenes, 1994).…”

When Military Uniforms Change into Prison Uniforms: Military Prison Incarceration Among Ethiopian Soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces

“…Research shows that when compared with the non-military population, veterans are more likely to be incarcerated for violent crimes and sexual offenses (Culp et al, 2013). It has also been found that ethnic and racial minority veterans, particularly African Americans and Hispanics in the United States, are more likely to be incarcerated after discharge than White veterans (May et al, 2017). Moreover, veterans seem to have unique characteristics that put them at risk of justice system involvement, such as different mental health needs as compared with non-veterans and difficulties in returning home after deployment and readjusting to civilian life (Blodgett et al, 2015; Canada & Albright, 2014).…”