National Public Radio’s All Things Considered reported today on the growth of problem solving courts specifically for veterans.  These courts, like drug courts, use a “carrot and stick” approach to provide help to vets who have committed crimes.  The story reported that there are currently over 24 such courts and that eligibility is not limited to those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.  However, the statistics for vets of those wars are discouraging:  1 in 5 Iraq and Afghan vets will suffer mental health problems.  And, mental health problems are the reason that many enter our criminal justice system. 

Although the military does a better job providing mental health treatment to veterans than it did in the Vietnam era, there are still many falling through the cracks.  I am concerned that providing more problem solving courts for vets could help to take the pressure off the military to provide better treatment so we can break the cycle of so many of our vets returning from service in a foreign war and ending up in a U.S. prison. 

The full report is available on the NPR site:  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126170654 (New Minn. Court Handles Vets Accused Of Crimes).