Legislation would allow veterans to get therapy instead of jail
TALLAHASSEE—
A year ago, Palm Beach County Judge Ted Booras helped open the county's first veterans court, a docket for veterans affected by mental-health and substance-abuse issues related to their military service.
It was supposed to handle a few people, every other week. Now, it's every Thursday. So far, 201 veterans have gone before Booras, who is trying to combine sentencing with treatment programs.
You may go on probation, but you get all these services," Booras said. "That's going to make a big difference in a lot of people's lives." Each vet returns to court monthly to give Booras, himself a former Marine, a full report.
Some veterans succeed, Booras said, completing treatment programs and getting jobs. Others have had probation violations or drug relapses. Most, he said, "really try."
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/fl-veterans-courts-pressed-20111112,0,4030059.storySome violations you will be able to tell that it's an issue related to PTSD, but once unethical people start pushing the envelope, I can see it abused for premeditated civil torts. I already see in my community how ex Colonels and officers have taken over positions of leadership and ignored the letter of the law to accomplish whatever they wanted. So even without this rule, they're getting away with things they shouldn't because of their military background--because there is a culture of corruption that exists in some small towns.
I just hope the law is directed at the real soldiers who served and not someone who never saw action.