What are the factors contributing to so many veterans being on death row?

2015-11-10T10:28:32-05:00

Across my screen flashed the words, "300 Veterans on death row, some with PTSD." This of course got my immediate attention, the article attached to it was a let down though because it didn't address the issue. It was more about the plight of a single veteran Courtney Lockhart and had a link to another story, "Georgia Vet with PTSD Is the First Inmate to be executed in 2015". This headline like so many other headlines are just attention grabbers.

I couldn't get the headline out of my head though and I started looking for other articles on the subject. There are 3,002 inmates on death row in the United States and 300 of them are veterans. 10% of the inmates on death row are veterans. That number seems kind of high, it's 3 points higher than the number of U.S. citizens that have ever served 7%.

There is a chance that the current climate with respect to ideals, perceptions, and negative reporting about the military, led to Soldiers being convicted not based on the facts and knowledge of the case but on these perceptions?

Many people used the military as a stepping stone to get to a better life through using education benefits. An education led to increased income and the ability to better yourself. Does the current economy and job market come into play here, with many veterans returning and unable to find work? Are veterans failing to use their benefits and falling into poverty?

PTSD - Soldiers returning with PTSD have difficulty getting into programs, they self medicate, they hold onto their anger, fear, ....

Training - Does it play a role in the veterans on death row getting there?

In trying to find out more about why there is such a large number of veterans on death row I came up with many more questions than answers. I think though it's important to recognize that one of these things or combination of them could lead to a Veteran ending up on death row. We need to reach out, to develop programs, to develop personal action plans for those that need help, to find a way to keep our brothers and sisters off death row.

Attached is one of the articles I referenced:

http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/why-are-so-many-veterans-on-death-row

Why Are So Many Veterans on Death Row? - The New Yorker

A new study shows that at least ten per cent of those awaiting execution in the United States used to belong to the military.