Should Veterans receive special treatment in Court after committing a crime?

For Drugs and Alcohol yes
Strong Arm robbery and Murder... No

I think it depends on the circumstance, and I think there are too many Veterans already in prison instead receiving the help they needed and some times you don't realize you need help.

I think that courts should give Veterans the benefit of the doubt.Speaking from personal experience I was considered a threat to the community due to my training so my bail was revoked.Definitely not fair.

Absolutely not -- especially with the U.S. having a fully volunteer military. Our nation's justice system is founded on rule of law and the idea that all men/women *should* be treated equally. I don't think my military service should allow me to be punished less while others who would have committed the same crime be punished more. Issues like PTSD should be taken into account based on a person's sanity but people who have never served in the military can also be afflicted with this.

Absolutely not, since I had the opportunity to sit in on a federal case involving a 20 yr NG veteran, who abused his position in a official capacity. Having served his country and then employed in a position of greater responsibility with the federal govt (ie; supervisor over the passport division) , He allowed non US citizens to travel with phony passports in and out of this country we all swore an oath too! He willfully and knowingly committed numerous rapes and took monetary favors in exchange. He will be serving the rest of his natural life in a federal prison, for as long as he lives.

He essentially betrayed every veteran both former and currently serving by his actions. So no veterans "DO NOT" deserve preferential treatment in a judicial system regardless of the crime. If you commit the crime do the time, it's as simple as that end of discussion . This E-7 is and was as indicated an "E-7" who lost touch with the real title befitting this individuals counter parts who wear their uniform with pride and leave the service with it intact .

Good on all of you who serve and have served your country to the highest standards, and will never waiver in this lifetime.

Its base on the mental state of mind and his/her physchiatrist as to whether he/she can be tried in a regular court of law.

I believe it will prove beneficial to not only the veteran, but also society in general. Veterans have many problems, including PTSD, not normally seen in the general population, some of these problems are exactly why the veteran is now in the criminal justice system. I have been involved in law enforcement both military and civilian for over 35 years and would advocate for programs for veterans similar to what we see with drug courts (for the general population) where not only is justice served, but what is in the best interest of the individual is also considered.

The Law is the Law. I am a veteran with PTSD but that does not put me above the Law. And if someone is using their PTSD as an excuse, and I know this would be hard to prove but we should not get any special favors just because we are veterans. After all is that not part of what we were defending? We have all put our time in to protect the constitution and the laws of our country, should we not also abide by those laws as well?

Veterans Court has started in Mass. I am in the process of being trained as a Police prosecutor This along with Drug Court is available to those who wish to except the the help. We as peer's and Brother must work with our Brothers and Sisters to get involved with the treatment being offered, all cases are treated case by case, to shorten this please as always remember "Never in front of you, Never Behind you, Always Beside you" We must take care of our own.

I believe that in certain circumstances, yes there should be specialized cases for Veterans. Veteran's Court aims to help rehabilitate vets who might not have been ready to transition to civilian life. In MY case personally, I was not ready to transition, mentally or emotionally. My unit ignoring the personal issues I was having during my last year in, despite advice they were given by my doctor and the end result.. was basically an explosion. I got out with an honorable discharge thanks to my doctor, not my unit and my transition out was basically my unit and sergeant doing what they could to get me out of their hair as quickly as they could.

So I got out and got in trouble.. however I had no prior brushes with the law before enlisting OR during. If it hadn't been for the legal and rehabilitation help I received from the VA, I'm not sure where I'd be now. As it is now, I'm in school(doing well), paying for my own apartment, my own car, and insurance. And all of this happened 9 months ago. So.. my legal issues are clearly not a reflection of who I am as a person. If a person is not a repeat offender, I do believe that the VA should offer them specialized help and legal options. Service members have to deal with a LOT of things that civilians do not and honestly I believe that has a huge effect of their mental and emotional state which might effect how they act once out in the civilian world.

I think though, that it should be based on each specific case.