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

NO, emphatically NO!!!!!! That is like saying a police officer or firemen deserve special treatment for crimes of murder or arson. Come on be serious, everyone needs to be treated equally in the eyes of the law.

Honestly, no I don't believe that veterans should receive special treatment. If the fourteenth amendment of the constitution means anything it means "equal protection under law". That should mean both in the for and against opinions of jurors and judges. Equal protection means just that, equal protection. No matter who you are you should get the same rewards or punishment for the same action.

I just have one more thing to add there are so many veterans who dont even know about the veterans court who wouldve benefitted and deffinately deserved legal help. My husband wouldnt be still sitting in prison today if for one his chain of command wouldve paid enough attention to see he needed help and two he wouldve had a veterans court behind him

TSgt Jackie Jones TSGT Jones... I will start of and say NO. We are not above the law and should receive no special "exemption" because of service... with an quasi exception and that I'll explain at the bottom.

Now, before the crucifixion begins... my position is one of the story of the Wolf, Sheep, and Sheepdog. I am a sheepdog... as many of us are that serve. I protect... still... the sheep from the wolf. Now, unfortunately, the sheep are wary of me because I look like a wolf. They know the wolf is bad and they are scared of the wolf... and we, because we look like a wolf, are not completely trust. Why? We are akin to wolves!

So when a sheepdog breaks the faith with the shepherd... and hurts the sheep... the penalty must be hard and swift. That is way I answer no special treatment for those you mention above. I cause challenges for all the other sheep dogs that are trying to protect the flock.

I'll now drop the other foot.

There are some of our brothers and sisters out there that need help. Unfortunately it is not known/seen until to late, or almost to late. They are now in trouble... or in and out of trouble... and the root cause is service connected. Here is where I relent and say, yes they do deserve a specialized option. As we have put them in this dilemma, or helped, we have to try an get them the help they require. That doesn't mean a "get out of jail free card" it means help... and they still answer to the music.

my 2 cents

WTH? Really?! This is a matter of personal accountability. We all (well, most of us) took oaths to "support & defend" the Constitution. I would submit that we would, similarly, agree to support & defend all Constitutionally valid laws. At what point to we quit blaming bad decisions on such things as child abuse, PTSD, and the like?! If I got into a drunken binge & subsequently committed a crime, to who does the responsibility fall? Me. If there are mitigating circumstances, I hire a lawyer to present my case... and let the proverbial chips fall will they may.

I'd say yes, If the situation was to such that the veteran showed PTSD was in part the issue. After all the veteran paid the price and may still be dealing with it.

TSgt Jackie Jones , great question. There are a ton of variables to this but I think that it is safe to say that generally speaking military service should be considered when deciding punishment for veterans. I know that as a police officer I have let many soldiers out of a ticket just for being in the military. The only counter to this is should veterans be held to a higher standard?

I think it depends on the level of crime. But I definitely think we should have special treatment for bankruptcy and forclosers.

PTSD should be identified and treated, however, once a crime is committed it's a whole different ball game. All veterans should be held accountable for their actions, rape, murder, theft, assault, drugs and all others. We were held to a higher standard while on active duty, why should it be different afterwards. Most had been diagnosed and remained on active duty without incident. Unless there's some serious mitigating circumstances ie; self defense, no special treatment.

As a Marine and a Police Officer, I think it depends on the situation and the crime. Most crimes do not deserve special treatment for Veterans like me. Veterans, above civilians, should know better and have a responsibility to act in a way that makes everyone else look up to us.