Written by Lynn Goya,

Veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are much more likely than civilians to end up homeless, addicted to drugs or alcohol, suicidal or imprisoned.  The U.S. loves its soldiers.  Until they come home.  Backing for vets gets  a little trickier, especially when they don’t fit that hero blueprint.  When a veteran gets in trouble with the law, they often face additional recrimination for falling so far off the pedestal.

Being seen as a hero adds to the pressure for some veterans who may feel that what they did or what they didn’t do may be far from laudable. But the world still craves the strong, silent conqueror even when, inside, the conqueror feels as if (s)he is  crumbling, or worse, a fraud.  Ex-soldiers find it particularly difficult to ask for help, and that is why they often end up in trouble, facing a judge who, frankly, doesn’t care what service the individual standing before him provided a year or  a decade ago.

Many, however, do care.  The past three years has seen an explosion of Veterans Courts, designed specifically to help former military who through bad decisions or bad luck find themselves facing time in prison.  Advocates say that a sympathetic court system that recognizes the unique pressures that veterans find themselves under not only helps the veteran in trouble, but saves the court time through reduced recidivism, saves the government money, protects the community and helps veterans get back on their feet, restoring their dignity in the process.