New legislation would allow for military service in lieu of prison time
TALLAHASSEE – State lawmakers are looking for creative alternatives to prison time for certain first-time low-level offenders.
One bill filed for the 2021 legislative session would provide the option of serving in the military instead of going behind bars, but even if passed, the idea is likely to run into obstacles.
A first-time offender, 25 or younger, who is facing convictions carrying up to four years in prison, would have the option of serving in the military in lieu of prison time under the legislation.
Joe West, a Vietnam veterans, said that back during the way, military service instead of jailtime was a fairly common option for judges.
“And they were not any different than my other b...
