(Nov. 11, 2015) The brave men and women of our Armed Forces never fail our nation in battle, and we have a duty not to fail them after they re-enter civilian life. In particular, we must not fail those who come home and become involved with the criminal justice system. Many of these veterans need treatment, not incarceration. The good news is that a grassroots movement across America has given rise to more than 200 Veterans Treatment Courts designed to give justice-involved veterans a better way forward.
One defendant before a Veterans Treatment Court was "Alison," an Afghanistan war veteran from Grafton County. After leaving military service, she experienced acute onset of schizophrenia, which went undiagnosed and untreated. One day, her car veered off the road and became stuck in a snowbank. Police arrived to assist, but Alison flashed back to Afghanistan and believed they were a threat to her. She became belligerent and was charged with assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.
But instead of being tried and jailed, she was referred to a Veterans Treatment Court where a Veterans Justice Outreach specialist, or VJO, worked with the court to arrange an array of services, including psychiatric assistance, medication monitoring and employment assistance. Alison signed a contract, agreeing to receive mental health treatment for at least a year and to be monitored by the court. Nearly a year later, Alison has "graduated" from the program, continues to receive treatment and has not re-entered the criminal justice system.
However, the Veterans Justice Outreach program faces an uncertain future. It was created by the VA as an innovative way to address the crisis of countless thousands of veterans who were being locked up and denied treatment. But, this is an ad hoc program with no clear legislative authorization. A new President or VA secretary could abruptly cancel it.
This is why I have introduced the bipartisan Veterans Justice Outreach Act, which would recognize the VA's authority to work with veterans prior to incarceration and would recognize in the U.S. Code the ongoing work of VJOs in all 50 states. This would give permanence and stature to the Veterans Justice Outreach program.
It is a sacrosanct principle, instilled in members of our Armed Forces: Never leave a warrior behind on the battlefield. This is true in a war zone, and it should be true in the battles that some veterans face after they return to civilian life. Those who have run-ins with the law deserve treatment, not incarceration.
U.S. SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN
NEW HAMPSHIRE
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