Armistice day
It is a terrible irony that on the day we announce the establishment of an independent inquiry into why so many former armed service personnel commit crimes and end up in prison, John Allen Muhammad, who had served in the US army for 17 years, was executed after having shot dead ten people.
He enlisted in the Louisiana army national guard at the age of 17 before volunteering for active duty, which saw him serve in the first Gulf War. He was 48 years old and was killed with a lethal injection in Louisiana.Â
One of the triggers for launching our inquiry was a conversation I had with two men in a high security prison. Both told me they had served in Northern Ireland, the Falklands and most recently Iraq. They said that they had been trained to kill, and they killed when they got back from war. They were serving life.Â
This of course is just one end of the spectrum and the majority of prisoners, including those who have served in the armed forces, have done nothing as terrible as that. Mostly their lives have taken a tragic turn, linked to alcoholism or family breakdown, and their crimes are nuisance but not violent. Perhaps the most concerning issue our inquiry will have to deal with is the incidence of domestic violence and the possible link to the experience of war and service.
We are embarked on a challenging journey. The inquiry will cover many complicated and sensitive issues. I will use this blog to report on the work as we progress.
Meanwhile, I appeal to anyone who has any direct experience of having served in the armed forces and has subsequently been in prison or on a community sentence to get in touch as we would like to hear your story.
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November 11, 2009
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Frances Crook · 
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Tags: Prisons · Posted in: Uncategorized
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Remembrance Day: deceptively complicated but simply right | Matthew Cain's blog - November 11, 2009
[...] was pleased to see the Howard League for Penal Reform launching an inquiry into why so many former service personnel end up in prison. As Max Atkinson reminds us there are those who didn’t fight in the war, but made no less a [...]
I watched the one show with much interest this evening on ex-sevice personnel in prison.With family,friends,and colleages have campained for years fot better support for veterans.Authors Frank Parkinson,and David Kinchin have been very helpful.
With the organisation N.R.A.H,and the Swindon P.T.S.D Support Group very worthwhile support the campaigning continues.Of note S.S.A.F.A are presenting to the R.C.N.,in Swindon next Wednesday.
I work for a charity called Learning For Life.We also have our Open Day at Basepoint Swindon a week tomorrow.A representive from you organisation is welcome to attend.
best wishes
yours sincerely,
Dick Hilling
R.W.HILLING A.R.R.C.
Dear Dick Hilling,
Thank you for your comment. I am the researcher for the inquiry, and would be very interested to discuss the issues further with you and hear your views. Please contact me at thomasin.pritchard[@]howardleague.org
Yours sincerely,
Thomasin Pritchard.
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