What would happen to those who dodged the draft for the Vietnam War if they were caught?

Answer 1

Normally they were arrested by the US Marshall's Service, or the FBI. If local law enforcement arrested them/detained them, they were turned over to federal officials. All draft dodgers were given the chance to enlist or accept induction, if they had an "attitude" and adamantly refused (a riot prone protester) then he'd be seeing the judge shortly. Then, if he still had an "attitude" (hating the US Government, using profanity, disrespect for people in general, etc.), then he did time in a US Prison. Nine out of ten "caught" draft dodgers, accepted the "deal" of entering the service. In nearly ALL cases, those 9 out of 10 men were happy that they did, they received good benefits and NO CRIMINAL RECORD, and most went on to live happy successfull lives. Those few that chose prison instead, for the most part, regreted it in later life. They had"criminal records" and people with criminal records often have difficulties finding a job (employment). As the year's went by, and attitudes in society changed towards Vietnam and Vietnam Veterans, those individuals ended up suffering even more as "guilt" began to eat away at them. Based upon interviews with that small minority of draft dodgers, they, for the most part, stated, "...if [they] had it all to do over again...they WOULD have gone into the military, rather prison." The pride of being a veteran, with the financial benefits afterwards, coupled with society's acceptance of veterans...FAR OUTWEIGHED being a convicted criminal.

Answer 2

Approximately 4,000 US draft dodgers were sent to Federal Prison during the war.