SBAND Seminar Materials 2013 Free Ethics: Echoes of War The Combat Veteran | Page 20
way,
a
criminal
charge
can
often
be
an
effective
tool
to
get
troubled
veterans
the
help
they
need.
C.
Lack
of
Communication
Between
Criminal
Courts
and
the
VA
System
Historically,
there
have
been
no
formal
lines
of
communication
between
the
criminal
courts
and
the
VA.
Most
courts
are
not
aware
of
treatment
options
available
to
veterans
through
the
VA
and
do
not
know
where
to
go
to
find
out.
Unfortunately,
this
leads
to
disparate
treatment
of
similarly
situated
veterans.
In
the
worst
case,
the
veteran
moves
through
the
system
without
being
identified
as
such,
or
worse,
is
demonized
for
his
or
her
criminal
behavior
without
any
heed
paid
to
its
underlying
cause.
No
effort
is
made
to
explore
treatment
options.
The
veteran
is
convicted
and/or
locked
up
and
does
not
receive
the
treatment
he
or
she
needs.
Most
are
eventually
released
back
into
society
in
even
worse
condition,
posing
an
even
greater
threat
to
public
safety.
In
the
best
case,
the
court
ensures
that
all
treatment
options
at
the
VA
are
explored
and,
where
appropriate,
determines
that
specialized
treatment
is
the
more
logical
and
just
alternative
to
a
jail
sentence.
The
court
orders
the
veteran
into
treatment
as
a
condition
of
probation.
Failure
to
complete
that
treatment
exposes
the
veteran
to
jail
time.
When
handled
properly,
a
criminal
charge
can
often
be
a
win-?win
for
all
involved.
Troubled
veterans
are
identified
and
given
the
opportunity
to
avoid
a
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