Essay on The Functions and Goals of the Special Veterans' Courts

This court works to help veterans avoid the traditional criminal system by providing those suffering with alcoholism, substance abuse, and mental-health issues with treatment, support, training, and housing. Judge Russell assigns each veteran a mentor, who is also a veteran from the same branch of service, who acts as a coach and motivator, helping to keep the rehabilitation process on track (“Leave no,” 2011).

Veterans face many challenges when transitioning from the service. Those that have served shift from a fairly structured and ridged way of life to the less structured and more chaotic civilian life. Many veterans, especially those that have been in combat or have had to personally deal with catastrophic situations, have a very hard time adjusting and often require significant levels of assistance. Sadly many veterans fail to get help, either because they do not wish to appear weak or they are simply turned away.

FACTS: The most effective programs for homeless and at-risk veterans are community-based, nonprofit, “veterans helping veterans” groups. Programs that work best feature transitional housing, with the camaraderie of living in structured, substance-free environments with fellow veterans who are succeeding at bettering themselves.

State and federal legislators both need to make it a priority to be involved in the welfare of veterans. The issues will never get better unless the individuals in charge of the laws, regulations, funding and departments step up to the challenges. That alone will not even be enough. These issues need to be addressed on a state level as well. Housing projects and professional training need to be made more widely available. Understanding the importance of both changes made at a state and federal level for the living conditions and health status of American veterans is the first step. The next step is that it must be acted on and improved. The United States of America owes that much to its

With the end of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, many veterans are returning home suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). For various reasons, instead of seeking help, many self-medicate through drugs and alcohol, and lash out at loved ones. When this happens, a large percentage find themselves caught up in the already flooded legal system, further perpetuating their issues and overwhelming the system. Veteran's Treatment courts offer an alternative to traditional court procedures, closely resembling the already proven model of the Drug Courts, taking the individuals out of the legal system, and getting them the help they need to treat their problems and reintegrating back into the civilian world, instead of just pushing them through the system time and again.

Living in America, the land of the free, I have taken the right of freedom for granted a few too many times. To this day, certain populations around the world are not able to enjoy the right of individualism. Many are oppressed by their country’s strict law due to a primarily focus on male dominance, child labor, and female oppression. Obtaining freedom is never easy. It takes honor, courage, and commitment. Fighting for freedom is an ironic concept because soldiers must be willing to sacrifice their own. Even after knowing this sacrifice, we still have brave individuals who volunteer to put their lives in harm’s way for the safety and insurance of our freedom. It is only fair that we return the favor and take care of our soldiers and veterans

Keywords: veterans, Veteran Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, H.R. 3230, Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act of 2014, Clay Hunt SAV Act, Justice as Fairness, vulnerable population, healthcare disparities, healthcare reform, social justice

There is a common belief that many combat veterans are suffering; many from invisible wounds that affect them in many ways. The challenge that the VA and other government agencies face is determining which veterans need help, there are several factors that affect this, from the individual’s desire to accept help, to the stigma that most veterans have accepted, which is “if they ask for help, they are weak.” During separation from the military it is a critical time for all soldiers, this time provides an opportunity for the military, the VA and our government to intercede and work with men and women while they are still soldiers. Veteran suicide is an epidemic, the number of veterans taking their life daily has been steadily growing, the statistic published by the VA is that twenty-two veterans end their lives every day (Suicide Data Report, 2012); steps have been taken to curb this number but the efforts have been woefully inadequate.

This research project studies the effects veterans court has on the incarceration rate, and addresses the history, issues and concerns associated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. In this paper, you will find data collected from the Department of Corrections, Bureau of Justice, Department of Veterans Affairs, The Society for Military Psychology, The Community Mental Health Journal and Justice for Vets.Org. Veterans make up a large proportion of the incarcerated population, and it is important to address and find solutions to the incarceration rate increase, by separating the unique needs of veterans from the criminal justice system. The studies and research done show a correlation between a veteran’s military service related mental health and criminal behavior that leads to the entry of the criminal justice system. This project is done in dedication to Ethan Jacob Edelman, soldier and friend to many, died on Veteran 's Day, November 11, 2015, at his home in Denver, Colorado. He was born on September 30, 1991 and was enrolled as a first-year student at Metropolitan State University. Ethan was a classmate of mine, who had just recently ended his service contract and had PTSD among other ailments. He had been struggling with his transition and ended up in Jefferson County holding. He had been under medical supervision for a few

The Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) is a public organization that is government provided. The organization funding is produce through taxes. The executive branch of the agency is located in Washington DC and is headed by Secretary of Veteran Affairs. There are Veteran Affairs Offices located in all 50 states, including American Samoa, District of Columbia, Guam, North Marianas Islands, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands. It ranks number two in the United States federal department with over 200,000 employees.

Throughout human history, we have watched many men and women storm into combat to sweat, bleed, and die for a cause that they believe in. War is no secret to mankind, we have seen it hundreds of times, and we are aware of the mental and physical damage it has the capability of causing. We’ve learned of the gruesome damage caused by the first world war, and the numerous amount of lives it claimed. We’ve read the vivid stories authors wrote, using literature as a means to communicate the horrors experienced in war. Even in present day, we’ve seen, or known veterans who have returned from war with mental damage due to the terrible things they witnessed or partook in. Whether or not it is the smartest or most responsible idea, the human race uses

Throughout history, citizens have seen the need to care for those who have defended their freedoms. Research shows veteran’s assistance programs dates back to the early settlement of the colonies that would later become the United States of America. In the year 1636, the Pilgrims, who were at war with the Pequot Indians, passed a law that stated they would take care of the disabled veterans who had fought in that conflict.

However, he Veterans for America have taken to a less popular choice. Instead of completely doing away with the VA, the Veterans for America request a change in them instead. The priorities have been sorted in a list of ten that also serve as instructions. First off is the rule that veterans must come first, not the VA. This is the most important rule. They believe that the care and funding of veteran health should be the first priority. The second priority refocuses on veteran service for those with disabilities and specialized needs. The third is the improvement of the VA, or more specifically the improvement of how the VA work-such as dealing with the timing and quality of care. The fourth and fifth priorities deals with the allowing of choice concerning from who and where the veterans receive their health care from. They believe the veteran has a right to choose. Following suit, the sixth, seventh, and eighth priorities again drills upon the Veteran Affairs by suggesting reform on thing such as the possibilities of health care on their budget, veterans’ demographics, and the cycle of their ‘standard operating procedures.’ They also note that the reform of such things will require bipartisan vision, courage, and commitment-to which they state in their ninth priority and how to implement it. The tenth -but by far not the least important-priority is to hold the VA accountable for all

The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) is responsible for providing vital services to Americas veterans. Such services include health care, benefit programs, and access to national cemeteries to former military personnel and their dependents. In this case well be discussing the health care system and how it pertains to our veterans. The health benefits provided by the VA should serve as ones’ sole source of health care or as a complement to an already existing plan. As with anything it has its pros and cons.

I believe that one of the best reforms to our justice system is the growing number of Problem-Solving Courts. Problem-Solving Courts are specialized courts that focus on specific problems in society, such as drug abuse, prostitution, mental-health, domestic violence, etc (Courts). I have chosen drug courts more specifically to research. According to drugpolicy.org, in 2012 1.55 million people were arrested for non-violent drug charges (Drug Policy Alliance). This is an astounding amount of people being arrested, which is why I believe it is important to have problem-solving courts. Unlike traditional courts, these specialized courts address the issues that individuals have that cause them to commit crimes in order to reduce the chances of