Criminal Justice Takes a Special Turn For Troubled Veterans

May 30 was Memorial Day, when Americans remember those who died serving in the Armed Forces. And recently a special court has been formed which tries to keep troubled veterans out of prison. Military graves were decorated on the day with flags. Soldiers and sailors marched in parades honouring fallen. Unfortunately, living veterans are having a tough time. Unemployment among veterans who served since 2001 is hired to non-veterans. Veterans make up 20% of all suicides. Nearly a fifth of the homeless population in the United States of entrance. Substance abuse is pervasive. Many more have mental health problems, which often lead to criminal behaviour. Robert Russell, a judge in Buffalo, New York, after noticing an increasing number of veterans on his pocket, in 2008 credit the first court specialised and adapted to meet the needs of veterans.

Every Tuesday, Mr Russell presides over veterans treatment court, a hybrid of drug and mental health courts. It aims to divert people from the traditional criminal system. It provides veterans suffering from substance abuse, alcoholism and mental health issues, with treatment, support, training and housing. Each veteran is assigned a mental and also a veteran from the same service, who acts as a coach and, if need be a hectic. If the veterans followed the programme’s regimen, which involves regular court appearances, mandatory drug treatment and testing, they could see their charges reduced or dismissed and they could stay out of jail.

Military folk like structure and will follow a good commanding officer anywhere. The troubled veterans seem to want to make the paternal Mr Russell who never served in the military, proud of them. One, who is going to college was so chuffed with the recent 97% grade they brought in a paper to show the judge. Mr Russell was equally proud and asked if he could keep the essay. Another nearing the end of the programme which takes at least a year, often to is given a hearty handshake and a standing ovation by the judge. Today there is be no recidivism amongst those who have completed the Buffalo programme. Other jurisdictions are taking notice. Since Buffalo’s entrance court began in 2008, 70 other courts have launched across the country a dozen more in the works in almost 2,000,000 veterans will be coming home from Afghanistan and Iraq. The success of this program is astounding, and it seems it will need to be replicated in order to prevent social problems which may result given the large population of veterans that is currently returning home.