Can You Get on a Military Base with a Felony?
The military has strict policies and procedures in place to ensure the safety and security of its personnel, equipment, and operations. One of the key factors considered when allowing individuals to access military bases is their criminal history, specifically their felony convictions. In this article, we will explore the answer to the question: Can you get on a military base with a felony?
What is a Felony?
Before we dive into the specifics of getting on a military base with a felony, it’s essential to understand what a felony is. A felony is a serious crime that is punishable by more than one year in prison. In the United States, felony charges are typically categorized into three types:
- Aggravated Felonies: These are the most severe types of felonies, such as murder, rape, and kidnapping. Aggravated felonies often carry a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.
- Serious Felonies: These are crimes that are less severe than aggravated felonies but still carry a significant penalty, such as robbery, burglary, and assault. Serious felonies typically carry a minimum sentence of 5 years in prison.
- Lesser Felonies: These are crimes that are considered less severe than serious felonies, such as fraud, embezzlement, and drug-related offenses. Lesser felonies typically carry a minimum sentence of 1 year in prison.
Military Base Access Policy
The military base access policy is governed by the DoD Instruction 2310.04, which outlines the guidelines for granting access to military installations. According to this instruction, individuals with a felony conviction may be restricted from accessing military bases.
Automatic Denial of Access
The military will automatically deny access to military bases for individuals who have been convicted of the following felony offenses:
- Crimes against persons: murder, manslaughter, rape, sodomy, sexual abuse, or any other felony that involves violence or sexual assault against another person.
- Crimes involving drug trafficking: any felony offense related to the distribution, possession, or trafficking of illegal drugs.
- Crimes involving terrorism: any felony offense related to terrorism, including the provision of material support or resources to a terrorist organization.
Conditional Access
However, the military may grant conditional access to individuals with a felony conviction for non-violent offenses, such as:
- Non-violent drug offenses: individuals who have been convicted of a non-violent drug offense may be granted access to military bases, but they must comply with certain conditions, such as regular drug testing and counseling.
- Other non-violent felonies: individuals who have been convicted of other non-violent felonies, such as fraud or embezzlement, may be granted access to military bases, but they must demonstrate a willingness to comply with the rules and regulations of the base.
Factors Considered
When determining whether to grant access to an individual with a felony conviction, the military will consider the following factors:
- Nature of the offense: the type and severity of the felony offense committed.
- Length of time since the offense: the longer the time since the offense, the less likely it is that the individual will be denied access.
- Individual circumstances: the individual’s age, education, employment history, and any other relevant factors that may indicate a low risk of recidivism.
- Behavioral and psychological evaluations: the individual’s behavior and psychological evaluations may be used to assess their risk level and determine whether they can be trusted to comply with base rules and regulations.
Table: Felony Offenses and Access
| Felony Offense | Automatic Denial of Access | Conditional Access Possible |
|---|---|---|
| Crimes against persons | ||
| Crimes involving drug trafficking | ||
| Crimes involving terrorism | ||
| Non-violent drug offenses | ||
| Other non-violent felonies |
Conclusion
In conclusion, individuals with a felony conviction may face challenges when attempting to access military bases. While automatic denial of access is reserved for serious felony offenses, individuals with non-violent felony convictions may be granted conditional access after a thorough review of their case. It’s essential for individuals with a felony conviction to demonstrate a willingness to comply with base rules and regulations and to provide evidence of rehabilitation and good behavior. Ultimately, the decision to grant access to a military base with a felony conviction is made on a case-by-case basis and is subject to the discretion of the base commander.
