Veterans’ Treatment Courts Need Full Funding
Florida Veterans for Common Sense (FLVCS) was founded by several Viet Nam combat veterans who are also lawyers experienced in the criminal and civil courts. Accordingly, FLVCS members know the long-term adverse consequences of combat suffered by our military members that have served in conflict zones worldwide.. Particularly, they know how traumatic combat experiences can result in behaviors that lead some veterans to become ensnared in the criminal justice system.
To insure that our returning military members receive the treatment and support they need, when their sacrifices for our nation have created mental and emotional problems severe enough to result in a criminal arrest, FLVCS strongly supports programs intended to provide support and treatment for those veterans.
The Florida Legislature has passed laws authorizing our Florida Courts to establish veterans’ treatment court programs that meet these needs. However, the budgeting of funds to serve these programs has not been effectively managed, leaving judges (who whole-heartedly support these programs) to scramble for funds to pay the cost of personnel needed to run our veterans’ treatment courts. FLVCS calls upon all citizens to let our state and federal legislators know that they should support the full funding of our Veterans’ Treatment Court programs.