Effects of Pre-Service Legal Encounters on First-Term Unsuitability Attrition inthe U.S. Navy

摘要

The purpose of this thesis is to examine whether an individual's arrest recordaffects his or her likelihood of being discharged for unsuitability during the first term of enlistment in the Navy. This study focuses on California recruits who entered the Navy between 1982 and 1989. California arrest records and Department of Defense cohort data files were combined and examined using cross-tabulations and regression analysis. The merged data permitted the identification of persons who entered the Navy with a disclosed arrest record (and moral waiver) as well as those who enlisted with an arrest record (likely concealed) but no moral waiver. The results suggest that a large portion of unsuitability attrition from the Navy may be attributable to the enlistment of persons who have a pre-service arrest record. The findings also show that many enlistees with a pre-service arrest history failed to receive a moral waiver that matched the offense. It is recommended that steps be taken to access criminal records maintained by the states, in an effort to reduce unsuitability attrition.