I said

Now I'm wondering what determines whether a convicted criminal gets their mind messed with or gets locked up. Age? The Federation didn't seem to have any qualms about messing with the kids memories to get them to incriminate Blake.

then Julia said...

Here it isn't the Federation, but corrupt Federation officials at the highest levels - not the same thing. What goes on behind closed doors is not necessarily what is allowed under official policy. Vila's psychiatric treatment seems to me to be an official part of the penal system, and attempt to reform him so that he is A Good Citizen, what was done to falsify a case against Blake was not part of the official system.

Accepted. Faulty argument on my part. I think maybe they would be more inclined to try to reform young offendors with more traditional methods of correction - better PR.

And once you've been cured of your unfortunate mental illness, you'll be terribly grateful to the state for your medical treatment.

I can see them being very keen to publicise how remorseful and grateful they reformed criminals are actually.

Leia