US to delay charging men in failing on draft sign-up
December 11, 1981
Washington
The Justice Department says it will delay seeking criminal charges against young men for failing to register for the military draft, at least until the Reagan administration decides whether to continue the program.
US attorneys across the country have been notified to refrain temporarily from seeking indictments.
Sources say the announcement comes a day before a ''handful'' of indictments had been expected.
The selective service has referred 150 names of young men to the Justice Department for possible prosecution for failing to register, out of an estimated 800,000 who have failed to register since 1970.