退伍军人法院
Background
Veterans courts are designed to assist justice-involved defendants with the complex treatment needs associated with substance abuse, 心理健康, and other issues unique to the traumatic experience of war. Some veterans returning home from war find it difficult to integrate back into the community. Veterans with untreated substance abuse or 心理健康 illnesses, including those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), may find it even harder to return home, which can sometimes lead to criminal activity.
Veterans courts involve cooperation and collaboration with traditional partners found in drug courts, 比如法官, 州检察官, 公设辩护律师, 案例管理器, 医生, 缓刑, 以及执法部门. Added to this interdisciplinary team are representatives of the Veterans Health 政府 (VHA) and the Veterans Benefit 政府- as well as State Departments of Veterans Affairs, 兽医中心, 退伍军人服务组织, 劳工部, 志愿老兵导师, and other veterans support groups.
The most obvious distinction between a veterans court and other problem-solving courts is that it limits participation to current or former members of the military. Some of the other differences include the veterans court team encompassing at least one member who is familiar with veteran and military culture, 术语, 好处, and any other veteran or military issues that may arise.
Veterans courts make use of the camaraderie that exists among all veterans. An essential part of veterans court is the addition of 志愿老兵导师 to assist their fellow veterans with a wide array of support. They are principal to the veterans court team and the participants. Their interaction with the participant, including a supportive relationship, maintained throughout the program, increases the likelihood that the participant will remain in treatment and improves the chances of success and sobriety. Veteran mentors volunteer their time and energy to assist their fellow veterans with peer support, 住房, 就业的联系, 职业培训, 教育, 运输, 伤残赔偿要求, discharge status and other linkages available at the local, 州和联邦层面.
此外, the VHA plays a key role in veterans court as their services are provided to justice-involved veteran participants. Veterans treatment courts leverage resources available from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to serve these offenders treatment needs.
当前的状态
As of October 2023, Florida has 32 veterans courts in operation.
The components of veterans courts, from The Ten Key Components of Veterans Treatment Courts
, 为退伍军人伸张正义 (a division of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals):
- 酒精的整合, 药物治疗, and 心理健康 services into justice system case processing
- Non-adversarial方法
- Early identification of eligible participants
- 连续服务
- Alcohol and drug testing for abstinence
- Coordinated strategy for responses to participants’ compliance
- 持续的司法互动
- Monitoring and evaluation for program effectiveness
- 跨学科教育
- 与利益相关者的伙伴关系
资源
Veteran Resource Guide for the Florida State Court System
2014年指南, prepared by the Florida Supreme Court Task Force on Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues in the Court, provides information regarding Florida’s veterans courts, mental and physical health issues related to veterans, 退伍军人福利, 司法指南, 和更多的.
自 Veterans Resource Guide for the Florida State Court System was published in 2014, there have been changes to the Florida statutes that govern veterans courts. These changes may have implications on your veterans courts. 除了, 自指南出版以来, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of veterans courts statewide. The guide has been updated to include these changes.
This site includes resources for veterans and their families, as well as resources for court professionals.