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Friday, March 23, 2012

Justice McCaffrey Speaks Up For Veterans Courts

How could I not like Irish-born Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Seamus P. McCaffery? Our families are  both from Armagh County. I met this ex-cop and Vietnam War vet back in 2007, when he was campaigning in Bethlehem. Joe Brennan, Don Cunningham, John Callahan were all there. I felt like a member of the Molly Maguires, waiting for some bastard Carbon County judge to order us all hung.

According to the Administrative Office of Pa. Courts, Justice McCaffrey was in D.C. yesterday to testify in support of establishing more Veterans Treatment Courts, to help vets whose real problem is addiction, mentl illness or some other disorder.  Like Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD), treatment courts provide an option for military veterans charged with nonviolent crimes to be diverted into treatment programs offering mental health, drug and alcohol abuse treatment in connection with their diagnosis of post-traumatic stress. This diversion, which is in lieu of incarceration, involves intense community supervision.

Pennsylvania already has 12 Veterans Courts in operation, with 10 more being planned.
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8 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 23, 2012 at 4:42 AM

    Another PROGRAM!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bill HillanbrandMarch 23, 2012 at 6:50 AM

    To the Anonymous 4:42 AM coward:

    Yes, another program that will save the lives and welfare of our returning wartime veterans and save money by not incarcerating those that are in need of diversion to mental health services for such issues as PTSD. Your snide remark is not worth a retort, for our returning veterans have earned the right to such benefits and programs by their unselfish and voluntary service to their country. Something you wouldn't understand.

    I have this sign hanging in my office and it is apropos to repeat here, "A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it."

    Bill Hillanbrand (USAF Veteran)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bernie O'HareMarch 23, 2012 at 7:55 AM

    Well said, Bill.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Marc GrammesMarch 23, 2012 at 12:31 PM

    Anon 4:42
    Shame on you! As a father of an Afghanistan War Vet, I forgive your ignorance. My son was a Corpsman with the Marines and was dropped in the inital invsion of Marjah. He has seen much..too much. Our service men and women deserve all the help we can muster...do your homework next time.

    ReplyDelete
  5. political parasitesMarch 24, 2012 at 6:44 AM

    6:50 am
    Honor Integrity, these are just a few words that most public officials should hold in high reguard for the people returning home to american soil. There are also alot of the public that thses words are uncomprhensable too.
    Sad in todays people the guidince to live by are the seven deadly sins, just not american.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousMarch 24, 2012 at 7:56 PM

    Sorry, you took my comment out of context.

    All for this type of program. I think the county veterans office's should also be expanded to assist and help these veterans.
    Additionally, the Federal Governmnet should also provide all Veterans with expanded veterans programs.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousMarch 25, 2012 at 7:20 AM

    Bernie,
    Too few comments on this issue. This indicates that those who gave the most, get the least attention.

    There's a saying that I've remembered since childhood as follows:
    "They gave their today, For our Tomorrow"

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousMarch 25, 2012 at 3:05 PM

    The Voice for Veterans is fading, since the Greatest Generation is aging.

    There's another saying as follows,

    "They have no voice, they have no choice"

    ReplyDelete

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