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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 10, 2014 12:08 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Chris Sainato |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | PTSD Considered When Determining a Criminal Sentence |
| In the near future, I plan to reintroduce legislation to allow post-traumatic stress disorder, commonly referred to as PTSD, to be considered by judges when determining a criminal sentence. This legislation is identical to House Bill 22 of the 2011-2012 Legislative Session. Pennsylvania has one of the largest veteran populations in the country with more than one million veterans residing in the Commonwealth. About one-fifth of these veterans likely suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or depression, with an equal number who suffer from traumatic brain injury. Unfortunately, many tend to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol and end up involved in the criminal justice system. This is a sad situation and is happening far too often. For counties that do not have Veteran’s Courts, which are designed to assist a former service member by providing a treatment program, allowing a PTSD diagnosis to be considered, specifically in any sentencing where applicable, will serve as a tool judges can use to assist these individuals on their path toward recovery. |
Introduced as HB2028