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"Judges Consider New Factor at Sentencing: Military Service"

By Douglas A. Berman

The title of this post is the headline of this new article in today's Wall Street Journal.  Here are excerpts from the effective piece: A small but growing number of judges say U.S. military veterans should be treated differently from nonveterans when they are sentenced for crimes. As more soldiers return home from combat overseas and end up in the criminal-justice system, a number of state and federal judges are deciding to show former soldiers leniency in light of their service.  Some veterans are receiving probation coupled with psychological treatment, generally for nonviolent crimes that normally would land them in prison. That is raising concern among some legal experts, who say singling out veterans for special treatment indulges criminal behavior and risks establishing a two-tier system of justice...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on December 31, 2009 (boomark / email).