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

I think that this all depends on the crime. If it is someone that has a significant criminal history then the answer is no. i have been deployed three times at two different locations and this dose not mean I should be allowed to break the law. if you have a Sm that the crime was caused due to a health problem then maybe the answer would be at this point be yes. So again it all depends on the crime.

Yes, especially if they have ptsd

This question that you have posted is very difficult to answer without sounding bias either way. Since being out, I have ran into several veterans that have had PTSD episodes happen and have lead to them getting arrested and placed in prison. They were not allowed to use that fact of why they committed the crime.

Does that give us veterans with PTSD a window that should allow us extra help even in a court of law? I'm not sure. I have PTSD, but I haven't committed a crime. I'm not sure how to properly attack this.

No, they should not receive special treatment. They should be treated like all citizens and held accountable for their actions and crimes. Or do we become a nation that accepts behavior; turn a blind eye, make excuses for. If that is the case no one should be in jail and the justice system should be disbanded.

It depends on the crime. But even issues involving PTSD should not exonerate the veteran for whatever crime they committed. Does a mother of a dead child care if the drunk driver is a veteran? No all she cares about is the dead child. If we create a separate but equal class then people will begin to resent the veteran. I am a veteran and a LEO. People use all sorts of excuses to accommodate the bad things they do. I would hope Veterans do not do this. And yes I have had to deal with veterans who come in to my care decrying "I AM A VETERAN!!! HOW DARE YOU DO THIS". I inform them that I too am a veteran and that if he truly is a Vet he should be ashamed of himself and the dishonor he brings to the uniform.

Yes their veteran status should be taken into consideration, as long as there is something in the veteran's background that should be considered and in line with the case. If there was a veteran that was trying to get out of something, because he screwed up but had nothing in his past related to his service, then no, it shouldn't be taken into consideration. But if the judge is dealing with someone that may or may not have been diagnosed with PTSD or some other kind of mental/physical disability that should be diagnosed and treated, then yes it should be taken into consideration. To be taken into consideration the veteran must have been diagnosed/treated through a VA or other medical institution, or the trial may have to be postponed where the veteran could be evaluated, because a lot of returning and current veterans have not went to the VA for one reason or another. Then the courts can carry on.

The problem that VTCs are hoping to manage are those men and women who never had any run-ins with the law, go on one or more deployments and then find themselves getting in trouble with law enforcement. Not only is are there certain requirements that have to be met for a Vet to be including in the VTC docket, there is a strict program they must adhere to in order for them to successfully complete.

As we have seen with the VTC in Colorado's 4th Judicial District (El Paso county which is the home of Ft Carson and three USAF installations) with the following impacts:
-Program graduates have a 0% recidivism rate. Program participants but who've not graduated have a 14% recidivism rate. This compares to a national average of 68-75%.
- Cost saving toe the community per participant is $33,390 per year

Since launch in the 2nd, VTCS have expanded to 4 other districts in CO.

Special Treatment? No

Veteran is for anyone who has served regardless of if you served in a combat zone or not. However, it there is be consideration for someones Military and combat service when a judge should when rendering a verdict.

I believe that veterans nowadays are a different breed or class of civilians. Most of us have had different experiences while serving and come from different backgrounds, however, our values which were instilled early remain the same for dictating how we act. I applaud the justice system for having a separate court system for handling veterans cases. We are a unique breed that deserves different levels of punishment if we commit crimes. Obviously, no two veterans are the same in how we handle certain situations. Some of us with PTSD, and/or TBIs, may not have the momentary wherewithal to understand what they are doing is wrong. In those instances, it is a comforting thought to know that there is a court system that will understand the gravity of what we may be going through and refer the veteran to the right form of help. Please understand that I agree that all bad behavior MUST be met with some form of punishment. No crime should go unpunished and the military has either taught us or re-strengthened our knowledge of the values which we were hopefully taught growing up.

Yes, but...

There are qualifications that should be in place. A veteran like myself who essentially drove a desk for a few years and faced the risk of paper cuts shouldn't be given any special allowances. A veteran that saw war and is suffering from PTSD or TBI and their crime is demonstrably connected to either/both of those conditions should be given a different program from the standard "perp."

Many vets with PTSD try to self medicate with alcohol or drugs. These vets need help. They need to company of others who have gone through the same things they have gone through. While active duty, they have their unit. Then they're out and essentially on their own. They need face to face connections with people who can walk with them through recovery and then provide accountability. A court in coordination with a local dept. of mental health and/or a VA can be a huge boon in this regard.