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Dr James Treadwell from the Department of Criminology at theUniversity of Leicester presented his research before his peers ata research seminar, announcing his findings on why ex-armed forcespersonnel end up in prison The seminar will draw on 29 interviews with serving male prisoners,who were previously employed in HM armed forces undertaken in threeprisons in England in late 2010. It will chart how recentexplanations for offending by ex-military personnel have focused onthe seeming connection between experiences of traumatic and violentconflict in active combat service and the onset of subsequentcriminality, particularly linked to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Dr Treadwell said: "Despite the fact that in the UK there hashistorically been little academic study of this connection,evidence from the USA about the link between military combatexperiences and violent crime is variable. However using theseaccounts of these former military service personnel, it will besuggested that their offending is complex and multifaceted, anddiagnosed combat trauma often seemingly only plays a small role." Dr Treadwell has previously served as the academic consultant tothe Howard League for Penal Reform's 'Inquiry into Ex-Armed ForcesPersonnel in Custody'. This independent inquiry has sought to discover the reasons whyex-servicemen enter the penal system, investigate how former armedservice personnel can be given appropriate support to preventoffending and look for good practice and new ideas. The inquiry waschaired by Sir John Nutting QC, one of the country's leadingbarristers. Dr Treadwell said: "As the oldest penal reform charity in theworld, and with United Nations consultative status, the HowardLeague for Penal Reform was well placed to launch such an importantinquiry, and my role as advisor and researcher has been integral tothe project". "I have been involved in various high profile visits includingtrips to the United States of America, attending oral evidencesessions, conducting extensive qualitative research interviewingex-servicemen in prisons in England, and writing a range ofpublished material for the inquiry". "The inquiry found that the veterans in custody constituted adiverse group, though alarmingly ex-servicemen were highlyrepresented for some categories of offence, particularly violentand sexual offences. "The majority had served a significant period in the forces, butstruggled in adapting to life afterwards, finding themselves on aslippery slope that lead to imprisonment. On leaving the forcesmany ex-services personnel find once stable relationships withwives and partners are often tested to breaking point andseparation and divorce are common. Individuals often miss thecamaraderie of the forces and have few people to turn to. "However there was no evidence to suggest that in the majority ofcases individuals were suffering the adverse effects of traumabrought about by combat exposure." In previous published research, Dr Treadwell notes how prison andthe military have a lot in common in terms of institutional outlookand support systems. Many join the services straight from school,swapping one institution for another and so have no experience ofindependent life and therefore struggle to cope after service. He said: "I have encountered many ex-forces personnel who had endedup in the criminal justice system. Those I met often came fromdifficult family backgrounds prior to enlisting, wereinstitutionalised into the services and ill-prepared for civilianlife when the left. In the military, things were ordered, butoutside, in the civilian world post-service, their lives fellapart." Commenting on his work for the Inquiry, Dr Treadwell said: "As the person charged with gathering much of the empiricalresearch that informs the Inquiry's report, I have contributed tocreation of knowledge in an area which has the potential to shapegovernment policy in years to come. As the Royal British Legion hasrecently noted, there is still a need for greater knowledge on howpeople who have served in the forces come to find themselves in thecriminal justice system, and work future undertaken in theUniversity of Leicester's Department of Criminology is likely to beat the forefront of generating that information and bridging theknowledge deficit, and ensuring today's soldiers are not tomorrow'sprisoners." Additional References Citations. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as China Alloy Steel Forgings , Crankshaft Forging Manufacturer, and more. For more , please visit Forged Steel Shaft today!
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