State Rep. Matt Lori has co-sponsored legislation that will help veterans receive the treatment they need and avoid time behind bars by creating a special veterans’ court in Michigan.
House Bill 5162 would create a standardized model and structure for veterans’ courts in the state. The problem-solving courts will be a hybrid of drug-treatment courts and mental health courts. They will steer veterans who have committed crimes into treatment facilities instead of immediately incarcerating them at the state or local level. Several similar courts are already operating in Michigan.
“These men and women have put their lives on the line for our rights, and they deserve special treatment for problems incurred while serving in the military,” said Lori, R-Constantine. “We recognize the special nature of their injuries and can treat them accordingly through specialized courts and treatment programs.”
The model for veterans’ courts in the bill is based on the original veterans’ court established in New York in 2008. In addition to treatment programs, a key component of the bill includes mentorship programs connecting the veteran who is having difficulties with a veteran of similar rank or branch of service.
“We see an increased number of veterans coming home from Iraq or Afghanistan suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injuries,” Lori said. “Instead of seeking the structured treatment they need and which is provided for them through the VA programs, they are often self-medicating with drugs and alcohol.”