Vet Court Case

Vet Courts Help Defendants Get Back on Track

The United States has several military branches that they train to defend and protect our freedom and soil at all costs. These warriors are broken down mentally and physically to be prepared for the adversity that war brings. Although some would say these militants are some of the best in the world, nothing can prepare a soldier for the toll that war brings the soul. Many soldiers come back home from war with a list of physical, mental, and emotional conditions, some may not even be aware that they might be suffering from a condition, leaving them to go on day to day without proper treatment. In some cases, an afflicted veteran then turns to drugs, alcohol, or even violence because they do not

Russell saw how many veterans where coming and going through municipal courts with charges related to their untreated conditions as a result of war who were going to jail or prison, which only makes the situation worse with already emotionally and physically sensitive vets. Russell knew there had to be a way to better serve those who once served us with nothing but courage. With Vet Courts defendants can expect to be treated fairly, get access to VA benefits they need and in come cases, rehab or housing might even be a option. Defendants aren’t just given a slap on the wrist for committed crimes, instead public servants in vet courts go above and beyond to understand why these vets did what they did, what they can do to help them overcome these obstacles and to stay on the right path. With this pioneering system in place that had such a high success rate, courts across the pond started following in their footsteps. “The court, like more than 50 others created during the past three years across the nation, specializes in working with troubled veterans to get them counseling, link them to government benefits, help them regain a sense of discipline and camaraderie they had in uniform, and steer them onto a more positive course in life.” said William H. McMichael in his article, “Special Courts Help Vets Regain Discipline”. In McMichael’s article he follows two veterans who were in Russell 's’ Vet Court program. One veteran John Clum was deployed twice, both instances in very dangerous zones with multiple fatalities of close friends. Once back home, Clum faced many demons without help. He began to depend on alcohol, which led to his two DUI’s that landed him in jail where he tried to commit suicide. While in jail he heard about vet courts and immediately wanted to join the program. From the courts he got stabilizing medication, got to work as a volunteer