6/12/10: Governor Quinn Signs Law to Help Veterans With Addiction, Mental Health Disorders
6/12/10: Governor Quinn Signs Law To Help Veterans with Addiction, Mental Health Disorders – CHICAGO — June 12, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today signed a bill into law that creates the Veterans and Servicemembers Court Treatment Act. The new law allows counties throughout Illinois to create special judicial courts for Veterans who may have mental health or substance abuse disorders. “Many of our brave servicemembers come home suffering from the effects of war, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, traumatic brain injuries, substance abuse and other service-related disabilities,” said Governor Quinn. “This law will help us take better care of our Veterans who need treatment, not jail.” House Bill 5214, sponsored by Rep. Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake) and Sen. Pamela Althoff (R-Crystal Lake), allows the chief judge of each judicial circuit in Illinois to create a Veteran and Servicemembers Court Program (VSCP) for military Veterans charged with nonviolent crimes. Veterans who receive approval for enrollment in the VSCP will receive mental health and substance abuse screenings, and must submit to treatment. Upon successful completion of the program, the original charge(s) may be dismissed. “This is groundbreaking legislation that allows qualifying veterans the opportunity to pay their debt to society while also receiving much-needed treatment for service-related disabilities,” said Dan Grant, Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs. “It is a proven and successful method of restoring mind, body and spirit to a veteran in need.” The VSCP models other …
Proposed veterans treatment courts to focus on cases tied to mental illness …
Filed under: drug abuse help for veterans
These would be open to current and former United States military personnel and would handle cases stemming from substance abuse or mental illness. … “It might help speed up the process for some of these vets who are in legal messes,” Schmitz said.
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Efforts pay off to put Minnesota's military veterans in civilian jobs
Filed under: drug abuse help for veterans
The National Guard wanted to help returning soldiers get back to work as quickly as possible and avoid problems that can stem from joblessness — among them drug and alcohol abuse and family conflict. To that end, guard officials launched an all out …
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