Letter: Sending criminals to military not so cheap

Sunday, Feb. 11, 2007 | 7:16 a.m.

In his Feb. 9 letter, James Poupard suggests that by sentencing nonviolent criminals to serve three years in the military, the taxpayers will save money. I think that Mr. Poupard fails to realize that his idea merely shifts the cost burden from one agency to another.

The military will have to allocate more funds via its budget to cover the costs of housing and feeding these additional conscripts. In addition, if you're going to pay them a salary, the current military recruit receives approximately $1,200 a month plus food, housing, medical care, clothing (uniforms), etc. Add to the mix the disciplining of these nonviolent criminals.

Try offering the nonviolent offenders a chance to enlist in the military, and let's see how many take the offer.

By the way, during World War II, judges did offer military service as an option to being sent to reform school or prison.

Herb Nixon, Henderson