Veteran Court Dockets have demonstrated they work and benefit veterans, families and communities. Approximately 1 in 6 veterans have a substance abuse problem and 1 in 5 have been diagnosed with some type of mental or cognitive impairment.
The cycle of substance abuse and incarceration leads many to commit suicide hurting families and our society and we must do whatever we legally can to stop the vicious, destructive cycle and return all veterans to their families and to be contributing members of society. The families will get back a son, daughter, brother, sister or spouse and society will get a contributing tax paying member saving taxpayers billions of dollars in incarceration costs.
It costs an average of $30,000 per year to keep a veteran incarcerated per year, plus the need to help families meet their needs and by returning the veteran home without addictions or conduct problems we save over $7 billion per year.
Unlike other special dockets, veteran court dockets with mentors who are veterans themselves have an astounding, unequal 90% success rate with no recidivism.
Instead of wasting lives in prison, we can make a difference by returning them to their families and communities.