Our attitude should remain one of gratitude when our veterans commit crimes as a result of psychological and physical wounds they received during their time of service.
Key Points:
- Far too many of our nation’s veterans are encountering the criminal justice system due to service-related conditions.
- Veteran Treatment Courts (VTCs) have been the default solution to handle the unique issues faced by veterans who encounter the justice system and are modeled after other specialty courts.
- States have taken different approaches with VTCs and have been assisted by limited federal programming, but it is time to harness best practices and standardize processes.
- Broad eligibility, cost sharing by federal, state, and local governments, and community-coordinated treatment/service options are essential to VTC success.
- Veteran offenders cannot be allowed to fall through the cracks of any criminal justice system when their service experience contributed to their offense.
