Bill Text: NJ AR29 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges New Jersey Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Task Force to support adoption of Veterans Treatment Courts.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-14 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee [AR29 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-AR29-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman NICHOLAS CHIARAVALLOTI
District 31 (Hudson)
Assemblyman VINCENT MAZZEO
District 2 (Atlantic)
Assemblyman RAJ MUKHERJI
District 33 (Hudson)
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Urges New Jersey Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Task Force to support adoption of Veterans Treatment Courts.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Assembly Resolution urging the New Jersey Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Task Force to support the adoption of Veterans Treatment Courts.
Whereas, In 2012 this Legislature established a task force to study the treatment of veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD) in judicial proceedings; and
Whereas, The New Jersey Veterans PTSD Task Force was created to identify and review the issues and concerns facing veterans of the United States Armed Forces and New Jersey's National Guard who have been diagnosed with PTSD and how that diagnosis has impacted their treatment in judicial proceedings; and
Whereas, The Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) model is based on drug treatment courts, where substance abuse and mental health treatment are offered as an alternative to incarceration and, typically, veteran mentors assist with the programs; and
Whereas, The VTC model starts with the premise of providing veterans involved in the criminal justice system with programs and services to overcome the challenges they face; and
Whereas, A VTC System in New Jersey would maximize utilization of Department of Military and Veterans Affairs' (DMVA) resources and ensure that veterans are getting the treatment they are owed; and
Whereas, According to current research, nine percent of the people involved in the New Jersey criminal justice system, or nearly 12,000, are veterans and though a large majority (82 percent) of these veterans are eligible for DMVA services, 18 percent do not have access to these services; and
Whereas, Veterans Administration professionals and other professional counselors and health care professionals are available at no cost to the judicial systems, and have been utilized efficiently in many other venues and jurisdictions; and
Whereas, According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, New Jersey is home to 413,000 veterans, the 19th highest state veteran population in the nation, yet New Jersey remains one of only a handful of states without a VTC; and
Whereas, More than 250 VTCs exist across the nation and approximately 32 states have already adopted such VTCs, and New Jersey lags grievously behind in adopting such a program, thus denying their veterans the justice and gratitude they have earned for keeping their fellow New Jerseyans safe; and
Whereas, VTCs recognize the tremendous service that the service members of our Armed Forces provide to our Country; now, therefore,
Be It
Resolved by the General Assembly of the State
of New Jersey:
1. This House recognizes the work of the New Jersey Veterans Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Task Force and urges the Task Force find in favor of establishing a Veterans Treatment Court System in New Jersey.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the members of the New Jersey Veterans PTSD Task Force and to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs as staff to the Task Force urging them to support a Veterans Treatment Court System in New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This Assembly Resolution requests the New Jersey Veterans Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Task Force to find in favor of establishing a Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) System in New Jersey.
The New Jersey Veterans PTSD Task force was created to study the treatment of veterans diagnosed with PTSD in judicial proceedings. The VTC System provides veterans who are involved with the criminal justice system with programs and services to overcome the challenges they face and to receive the treatment they are owed. In New Jersey, approximately 12,000 veterans are involved in the criminal justice system. Approximately 32 states have adopted the VTC System, making New Jersey part of the minority of states that have yet to adopt it.
