Similar to how some young offenders are offered military service instead of jail, would Starfleet do the same?
Starfleet or jail
- Thread starter Laura Cynthia Chambers
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Well, this is pretty much the choice that Tom Paris was given.
They could not force someone to go to the Academy, the Academy is for the best and brightest of the willing. Starfleet may not be a suitable career path for even some of the most outstanding of Federation citizens, let alone those who have chosen to walk a path of criminality. Not everyone in the Federation needs to join Starfleet, it is not compulsory ‘National’ service nor conscription based. A convict may or may not not have the attributes necessary to join Starfleet, especially in regards to their moral compass - but joining Starfleet should be an ambition, not a get out of jail card. Perhaps they *could* join Section 31 though if they have the necessary skill sets… 
I am sure that Starfleet figured all of this out when they decided to set up penal and rehabilitation colonies such as the one in New Zealand.
I am sure that Starfleet figured all of this out when they decided to set up penal and rehabilitation colonies such as the one in New Zealand.
In William Shatner's book Collision Course (based on a failed TV series pitch), this is exactly what leads teen Jim Kirk to join Starfleet after a joyride in an aircar.
The practice of offering criminals a choice between the service or the slammer did occur, especially back in the days of the draft. And for certain people, it's a lifesaver. However, I don't really see a creme de la creme organization like Starfleet needing to troll the jail cells to make its recruitment quota. That would more be the realm of terrestrial organizations that were less glamorous, but still needed people.
There is "Enlisted" that doesn't go through the academy. I could see that happening. Instead of Jail or some other type of punishment, a judge would might see that what the person needs is structure or some other type of thing that Starfleet could provide, so Have him/her/other enlist in starfleet for say 2 years, and if they meet the requirement there record is expunged, and they could continue or even go to the academy for officer training.
They don't just put any criminal into the military more of a 2nd chance.
They don't just put any criminal into the military more of a 2nd chance.
I don't think they'd be so much bumping up their quota as trying to do their bit to make the universe a better place by giving individuals a chance at a better life. Rehabbing people who show promise, like NuPike offered to NuKirk ("You like being the only genius-level repeat offender in the midwest?")
Generally, the rationale for the "service or the slammer" choice is that the sentencing judge sees a young person who has made poor choices, but nothing truly horrible. Said choices are often the product of upbringing and environment. The military provides structure, discipline, camaraderie, role models, and the opportunity to be part of something greater than yourself. And while it may not always yield the desired result, it might just help that young person make something of himself.
Granted, Pike wasn't a judge handing out a sentence, just someone who believed in Kirk. It was still Kirk's choice.
Not everyone in Starfleet goes to the Academy, despite what they tried to make us think in the 90s.
True. The Academy is kind of like West Point or Annapolis, a place where you become an officer. Enlisted personnel just sign up, and if accepted, become crewmen and later chief specialists like O'Brien.
And there are also officers who are not graduates of the Academy, like Michael Burnham wo got a commission because of her education with the Vulcan Science Academy.
There must be some sort of equivalency testing and make-up courses for missing creds.
If somebody who had been rehabilitated after committing a crime and having served their time chose to later join Starfleet, then there should be no prejudice against them nor special dispensation in their favour either. Such a person would have to qualify for service within Starfleet on the strength of their own merits and achievements, either through the ‘main stream’ Academy, or enlisted by other means according to fair and recognised established criteria which would also be applicable to others wishing to join Starfleet via a non traditional route.
I would also be surprised if Starfleet doesn't have a "mustang" provision for promising enlisted crew, where they can either be sent to the Academy (in non-canon material, this happened with Simon Tarses, following his suspension), or just given a field promotion to Ensign that Starfleet later confirms.
Even the class-stratified Royal Navy of the 18th and 19th centuries periodically recruited capable young seamen as officers, so a more egalitarian organization like Starfleet would likely do the same.
This would all have to be done above board, agreed by a committee and senior leadership within Starfleet Command. There would also have to be stringent field observations and ‘quality checks’ of officers enlisted in such a way, almost like a probationary period until they had proved themselves on the job. There would also need to be other strict safeguards in place so that such a way of enlisting could not be abused or exploited.
Starfleet does indeed have mustangs. O'Brien mentioned having been offered an officer's commission, which he turned down.
No, not in the enlightened Trek era.
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