BREAKING NEWS
Top Iran reformer sentenced to 6 years in jail Indonesian passenger ferry sinks with 242 aboard Golf: Elleair Ladies Open final-round results+ Weather forecast for Monday+ Officials: 4 dead in attacks around Iraq Pistols, Tasers, assault rifles sell fast at US show Police identify gunman in deadly Saipan rampage Afghan official: 5 border security guards killed Indonesian ferry with over 200 people sinks: police Police identify Saipan gunman who killed 4 Indonesian ferry with over 200 people on board sinks Police identify Saipan gunman who identified Group bullying suspected in 14-year-old boy's death in Okinawa+ 3 bomb blasts leave 5 dead, 25 wounded in India Top Iranian reformer jailed for six years - reports Golf: JGTO money rankings+ Stars come out for CNN Heroes ceremony China legislator seeks to criminalise banquets: report Main events scheduled for Monday, Nov. 23+ Golf: Dunlop Phoenix Tournament final-round results+
AP: Breaking | Alerts | World | US | Politics | Business | Entertainment | Life | Science | Odd | Sports | Tech
More convicted felons allowed to enlist in Army, Marines
WASHINGTON (AP) - Under pressure to increase their numbers, the Army and Marine Corps are sharply raising the number of recruits with felony convictions they are admitting to the services.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Data released by a congressional committee shows that the number of soldiers admitted to the Army with felony records jumped from 249 in 2006 to 511 in 2007. And the number of Marines with felonies rose from 208 to 350.
The bulk of the crimes were for burglaries, other thefts, and drug offenses, but nine involved sex crimes and six involved manslaughter or vehicular homicide convictions.
___
On the Net:
Defense Department: http://www.defenselink.mil
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
