Can jail time be traded for mylitary service?

Question

Can jail time be traded for mylitary service?

Answer 1

This used to be a common practice for the military in the days of the Vietnam war.  This doesn't happen much any more.  Courts have been known to give a person a break due to the fact that the person is going to enlist in the military.  However, courts will not let a person, for example, serve four years in the military as opposed to four years in prison.

Answer 2

umm, i don't think there is a choice.

Answer 3

They did in Vietnam, they might start doing that again.

Answer 4

Years ago judges sometimes ordered defendants to join the army or go to jail.  They can't do that anymore.  The military has become much more selective in who they allow in and a lot of people with criminal records simply cannot get in.

First, the military would not allow someone to enlist when he has an active criminal case pending in Court.

Second, the judge is not going to dismiss a case prior to the defendant enlisting.  If the judge did dismiss the case then the defendant could easily choose not to enlist and there would be no recourse for the Court.

It is essentially a catch-22.

Answer 5

it technically can't be 'traded' but you might get a break for being in the military or enlisting in the military...it also depends on the crime and who is deciding...