Lawmakers hold bill to create more veterans courts in Utah | KSL.com
A veterans court places emphasis on rehabilitation and support, rather than punitive measures. It takes into account a veteran’s history and any issues related to their service, according to Rep. Lowry Snow, R-Santa Clara.
Snow proposed a bill, HB436, which would create more veterans courts throughout Utah. There are currently four veterans courts in Salt Lake and Utah counties.
“This bill is an effort to … make certain that those services that have been made available in some courts are made available to our veterans residing throughout the state,” Snow said.
This bill was heard in the House Judiciary Standing Committee Friday. Snow asked for the bill to be held because there is a need for more input and the legislative session is almost over.
Former Utah County Attorney Jeff Buhman said in the five years that the Utah County veterans court has been in operation, it has been extremely successful in lowering the recidivism rate of veterans and he has observed changes in their lives.
“We’ve had individuals that were dealing with severe PTSD, mental illness and a variety of drug addictions that have been able to completely change their lives through the veterans court program,” Buhman said.
Snow explained veterans courts are not separate courts, but a separate process. A judge assigned to cover veterans cases would treat them according to the language in the bill. Veterans courts also involve a partnership between courts, attorneys and outside resources.
Brian Tarbet from the Utah Attorney General’s Office said the office supports the initiative.
“We send these folks out to serve, sometimes they come back broken. Whatever we can do to help them and put them in a system that will help them, and help the state, we applaud,” Tarbet said.
I think most of our regular readers know what my opinion is on this kind of nonsense. We are all just victims of our service, damaged by our military service, we need more support and initiatives so that we are not held accountable for our actions in the same manner as the rest of the population.
Source: Lawmakers hold bill to create more veterans courts in Utah | KSL.com
Category: Crime, Exploitation, Legal, Politics
I have two minds on this.
On the one hand, I agree with Dave completely that this sort of thing simply reinforces the narrative that veterans are broken because of their military service.
On the other, unless or until the military stops letting broken toys join the military where they fail to fix themselves/get fixed, we need this kind of thing. There are veterans courts in my locality, and they are very successful at keeping those broken toys out of prison for drug/mental issues. They then become if not productive members of society, they at least are no longer a drain on resources who by their inherent brokenness contribute to the narrative, at least optically. Meaning, at least they are no longer a headline, “Veteran crashed vehicle, DUI…”
I’m guessing this doesn’t count as a “First”. But since it’s the closest I’ve ever come, 8m claiming it and taking my victory lap.
Don’t understand what is so unique about Utah wanting more Veteran’s Courts considering they already have four. Other States have Veteran’s courts as well.
Can someone please enlighten me on this?
https://www.ncsc.org/Topics/Alternative-Dockets/Problem-Solving-Courts/Veterans-Court/State-Links.aspx
Do the crime do the time.
If you think your service was a contributing factor then say so to the Judge. The regular Judge that everyone else stands in front of.
Except illegal aliens. They don’t stand for no stinkin Judge.
Leftist anti military and anti veteran agitprop is working so well, special “courts” are now being enacted to further show how undesirable veterans are. Anyone that falls for this type of shit an utter fucking moron.
We have them here. They require that the defendant submit to the veterans court, so it’s only for those who want to try. It’s really more about putting the veteran/defendant on a path of personal accountability. They require more of them than the regular courts do. They also have a strong social services bent, so they will help with finding resources for the vets.
Mixed emotions.
For a first strike, say a DUI or something similar, then give them a shot. That is if they are honorable and actually have a reason to have the PTSD.
But I have seen them morph into a catch all – “The PTSD made me break into cars and steal things to sell for meth” or “The TBI that was not documented (because I was not in combat and have no PH) made me steal the shit from the store and get drunk and beat my wife” or “The PTSD makes me a lazy drunk that refuses to work so I needed to borrow some of my neighbor’s things to pawn without them knowing about it”.
Concur, GT. I’m liking the intent, which is to get struggling vets the help they need. I’m not liking the fact that it’s labeling us all as damaged and requiring special treatment like so many other special snowflakes. The legal system should be the same for everybody.
I’m always struggling. Send me some money and I’ll shut up and go away.
I’m wid all of y’all on this. Well ‘cept for Anon Army. This is not the FIRST Thread, not the MOT, tho you were FIRST on this thread, and it is definitely NOT the Friday Weekend Open Thread FIRST, the only true FIRST that counts in the Coveted Book of FIRST. CW has a lock on that for this week, prolly due to Russian collusion and or AW1Ed’s making sure that this is one game that Army don’t win. So instead of a victory lap, run down to get Class VI supplies and stop by the seegar store on your way back.
All that being said, I am in full support of Veterans getting the help they need for any SERVICE RELATED PROBLEM. However, I know and or have known literally hundreds of Combat Veterans from every war since WWI. Not a single one of them used their Vet status to rape, rob, murder or be a sh*t bag. Too many have tried to use this as a crutch or to paint us all as baby raping, women smoking, dope f*cking fiendish killers.
AnotherPat, only thing I can explain is how Army WILL GO and BEAT Navy.
I have a documented TBI but the explosion that caused it was “friendly” lol, so no PH. BSM and CIB though. On a personal note i think the PH is one of the best looking medals in the current system. Still dont want one.
I am thinking this. Is very much not “equal protection under law”.
Who is the next category of folks with “special” courts and “special” laws?
That is called “aristocracy”, or “serfdom” depending on which way the advantage breaks.
Can a judge take circumstances into consideration? Sure. For anyone.
Should Vets get special handling of criminal cases? Only based upon the individual merits of the case, not merely the fact they are members of a group.
Bad precedent, I think. Time to roll this back, along with congresscritter exceptions not specified in the Constitution.
These are not special courts. It is very simply, a way to coordinate services the Veteran already has available and may not even know it. These are mainly for drug and alcohol offenses and yes, PTSD may be part of it as well. Courts all over are adopting a similar model called “Recovery Courts” so these are not really any different than that other than the VA coordination.
I agree. People should not get special courts just because they once served in our military anymore than they should get leniency just cuz they claim they caught the dreaded PTS of D or suffered a broken taint in the Air Force.
Once again we are passing more laws to fix a failure of the government in the first place.
What the article really reveals is an inability of our current justice system to recognize the distinctions between someone who simply fucked up and is not a true danger to society and hardened criminals without regard for society’s rules.
Justice reform is long overdue in this country. I think we are all aware of the significant differences in sentencing and outcomes for offenders under US “justice”. My observations have long been that our current system reveals just how much of an industry it is as opposed to a mechanism to reform offenders and provide for a safer society.
If you are a talented swimmer you can rape a drunk women by dragging her outside a building and raping her next to the dumpster, doing things so vile that when you are caught by two passersby one of them cries for days thinking about what you were doing, and serve less than six months. We all know who I’m referring to, his lawyer was great, consequently a known shitbag rapist felon walks free in his neighborhood.
Meanwhile we all know the stories about guys caught stealing pennies worth of dumb shit while they’re homeless and spending years in prison alongside the guy busted for weed.
Justice reform is long overdue. This is not the path forward, not in any meaningful way as it only helps one class of offender.
My 2cents on Veterans courts. These are a good thing. I had experience with Veterans court in Ohio where the Judge that oversaw the program is also a BG JAG in the Reserves. It’s not a “blame the service” kind of thing. They work in concert with the VA to coordinate all types of treatment which does not always include PTSD but does if it is applicable, as well as training and job placement. There are representatives from the VA and local VSO’s to help assist. The model is successful enough that in my new local community they have adapted the model for drug and alcohol offenders specifically to help keep them out of jail and get them treatment.
In the case I am talking about the Veteran has to volunteer for Veterans court and I have seen some volunteer for longer probation in order to participate and with stricter reporting requirements than “standard” probation. This has more to do with coordinating services that often, the Veteran doesn’t know are available.
“It takes into account a veteran’s history . . .” Does that mean that if I was a total shitbird, I will get completely dumped on?