Veterans Affairs

If passed, this bill will update the process in Florida for getting veterans into treatment programs that a court is in charge of.

• Veteran: someone who has served in the US army, navy, marines, coast guard, or air force.

• This bill:

  • Lets the court, in talking to other professionals, decide who can go to veterans treatment court programs  

    • Veterans Treatment Court: A special court that offers different options than what usually happens when someone breaks the law, to veterans who broke the law. It aims to get at the cause of why they broke the law, instead of just punishing them.

  • Allows courts that are deciding what to do about a veteran who got in trouble with the law, put the veteran in a treatment program instead of jail or prison

  • Makes the court give certain warnings to veterans who have gotten in trouble with the law 

  • Explains how to handle when someone on probation breaks the rules or community control by people in the program.

    • Probation: an option other than jail or prison, where a person stays in the community while being checked on by a police officer to make sure they’re following the rules.

    • Community Control: Where someone who has broken the law is checked on by wearing an electronic device that alarms if they do something or go somewhere that the court says they’re not supposed to.

  • Changes Florida Law to add:  

    • The sentencing court can put the veteran into a treatment program, if they: 

      • Did not do anything violent

      • Are a service member or veteran as defined in another part of Florida law.

    • Completing the program successfully is a part of their probation or community control

    • The veteran who broke the law must be told fully about why they are going to the treatment program and agree to go.  

    • The original court will give up their power to decide to the veterans treatment court until: 

      • the veteran is done with the program

      • they go back to court because they didn’t do what they’re supposed to

      • Or they do what the court told them to do.

    • If a veteran in a treatment program breaks more rules, the judge in charge of the veterans treatment court will decide what happens.

    • The judge will handle any broken rules after a hearing or when the person admits to breaking rules, as long as they are following the law.

      • Hearing: A meeting in court where a judge listens to people and decides what should happen.