PRINTER'S NO. 2415
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
498
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY READSHAW, GOODMAN, BARRAR, BARBIN, DiGIROLAMO,
ENGLISH, JAMES, DEASY, DONATUCCI, GAINEY, LONGIETTI, NEILSON,
BIZZARRO, MILLARD, BOBACK, KINSEY, O'NEILL, DAVIS,
CALTAGIRONE, FLYNN, WARD, PASHINSKI, BERNSTINE, R. BROWN,
RAVENSTAHL, MULLERY, ROZZI AND MENTZER, SEPTEMBER 14, 2017
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
SEPTEMBER 14, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the continuing work of the Veterans Courts in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, With more than 1 million veterans in Pennsylvania,
the Supreme Court recognized a need for a problem solving court
to address the unique issues involving Pennsylvania's veterans;
and
WHEREAS, Veterans Courts are designed to assist veterans
charged with crimes who are struggling with addiction, mental
illness or co-occurring disorders and come in contact with the
criminal justice system; and
WHEREAS, Veterans Courts connect veterans with services,
benefits and program providers to ultimately reduce recidivism
among military veterans; and
WHEREAS, Veterans involved in Veterans Courts receive support
and guidance from veteran mentors, are supervised by specialized
probation officers and receive treatment and support from the
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Veterans Administration to address underlying problems often
caused by posttraumatic stress disorder; and
WHEREAS, The first Veterans Court in Pennsylvania opened in
Lackawanna County in 2009; and
WHEREAS, Veterans Courts are now located in 20 counties
within Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Working with the Administrative Office of
Pennsylvania Courts, the Veterans Administration and the
Statewide Veterans Justice Partnership Task Force, the Supreme
Court has advanced the concept and implementation of the
Veterans Judicial Courts; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania continues to innovate and implement the
Veterans Court system by working with the National Center for
State Courts to develop performance measures for Commonwealth
Veterans Treatment Courts that may also be used as a nationwide
resource; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the
continuing work of the Veterans Courts in Pennsylvania; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That, in honoring this work, we raise awareness of
the efforts of the Veterans Courts in Pennsylvania to provide
comprehensive treatment, resources and support with the goals of
encouraging rehabilitation and reducing recidivism among
Pennsylvania's large military veteran population.
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