Veterans and Law Enforcement: A New Deal Aimed at Preventing Crime?

By Guy Gambill
Guest Contributor
Catalyst Newsletter 2009 Volume 30, Number 10

Some veterans of the War on Terror (primarily the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan) are running afoul of the law, but is the deck of cards stacked against them? And are they any different from veterans of other wars? Many believe that psychological problems resulting from their combat experience set a good many of these veterans apart.


The bigger issue is whether law enforcement officers, and even our courts, should deal with these veterans differently from others who come in contact with the judicial system. If they are given a second chance and a shot at mental health counseling, will they avoid a repeat offense?


Perhaps now is the time to recognize the unique issues facing these combat veterans and deal with them in a constructive manner that benefits the service members, their families, and the country they have served so well.


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http://www.ncpc.org/programs/catalyst-newsletter/catalyst-newsletter-2009/volume-30-number-10/veterans-and-law-enforcement-a-new-deal-aimed-at-preventing-crime