PHOENIX - Attorney General Brnovich, along with a bipartisan coalition of 43 other state attorneys general, is urging Congress to support our veterans by passing the Veteran Treatment Court Coordination Act of 2019. The legislation would further assist Veteran Treatment Courts which are diversionary court processes used for minor, non-violent offenses. These courts pair veterans with mentors to address substance abuse and mental health issues as well as assist with obtaining United States Veterans Administration benefits that can help with treatment and employment. There are currently over 450 Veteran Treatment Courts in 40 states and territories, including nine that are operational in Arizona.
“There are over 18 million veterans of the United States Armed Forces in this country today who have risked their lives in service to our nation," said Attorney General Brnovich. “This bill will facilitate meaningful support to those diagnosed with service-related conditions, and help untreated veterans who will encounter the criminal justice system. Providing these resources will honor their contributions and sacrifices and assist in the transition back to becoming responsible and productive members of our communities."
Veterans Court is a collaborative process that includes the judge, prosecutor, defense counsel, the Department of Veteran Affairs and other community-based support organizations. The goal of Veterans Court is to rehabilitate and restore veterans as active, contributing members of their community. The program is focused on veterans who are currently in or entering, the criminal justice system. The Court creates and supervises treatment plans to address the underlying causes of behavior and substance abuse issues. The first Veteran Treatment Court in the nation was established in Buffalo in 2008.
In a letter to U.S. Senate leaders, Attorney General Brnovich and 43 other attorneys general encouraged the passage of House Resolution 886, the Veteran Treatment Court Coordination Act of 2019. The bill passed in the House on October 28, and now heads to the Senate for consideration. If passed, it would establish a Veteran Treatment Court Program in the United States Department of Justice to provide grants and technical assistance to local, state and tribal courts implementing Veteran Treatment Courts.
Read the full letter.
In 2017, Attorney General Brnovich joined former U.S. Senator Jeff Flake in calling for the passage of the Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act of 2018, legislation that requires the Department of Veterans Affairs ("VA") to hire at least 50 Veterans Justice Outreach Specialists ("VJOs") under the Veterans Justice Outreach Program and place them at eligible VA medical centers. President Trump signed legislation authorizing more funding for VJO's in September of 2018.
Veterans and their families can get more information on the Veterans Treatment Court options in Arizona here: https://dvs.az.gov/veterans-court
The Attorneys General from the following states and territories signed the letter: Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.