There is an interesting post on the Ares Defense Technology blog discussing the issue of post-deployment crime that was cited in a widely read NY Times report.

The major criticism of the report is that the paper didn't compare statistics of violent crime among veterans against the general population. In fact, the homicide rate is lower among vets than it is among the general population.

"If you read, really read what we've written, we try and see the crime that has been committed in the context of this individual’s service, life, character and community. The people who commit these homicides on their return are an incredible minority, a teeny-weeny minority," said Sontag. "But the individuals who return from Iraq and Afghanistan and become dysfunctional are a larger minority. And if you look at the details of these cases, as some of the vets who have called us have said, they look at these cases and they say, there but for the grace of God go I.

Comment: This is a very difficult issue especially for crime victims and family members of veterans who came home from combat and perpetrated them. It is critically important that we work together to look at the issue with scientifically valid statistics. Regardless of the science are we doing everything reasonable to set up our service members for success when they return home?

Reference: http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Bl...