Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | September 18, 2019 03:13 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Harry Readshaw |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Resolution: Veterans Courts |
| Pennsylvania is home to nearly 800,000 military veterans. These brave men and women often face a new set of challenges once they return home from combat. The VA indicates that between 11 and 20 percent of veterans who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom experience post-traumatic stress disorder within a given year. Further, about 8 percent of inmates nationwide are veterans. While this may seem like a small percentage, that could still mean thousands of incarcerated veterans in our Commonwealth. Given the service each one of them has given our state and our country, we should take steps to figure out why veterans come in contact with the criminal justice system and get them the help they need to once again become productive members of society. That is why I am re-introducing a resolution honoring the work of Pennsylvania’s 20 Veterans Courts. These problem-solving courts help our veterans address the mental illness, addiction and other co-occurring disorders that may have contributed to their arrest in order to reduce recidivism and promote healthy living. By urging our Veterans Courts to continue their good work and raising awareness of this option, we can better serve those who have served us. Please join me in celebrating the work of Veterans Courts in Pennsylvania, which have added one more important tool to ensure the wellbeing of those who have stood for freedom at home and abroad. |
Introduced as HR554