Message from Phil Cline, District Attorney

Our young men and women are fighting wars all over the globe. They are in combat. On our behalf, every day, every hour, every minute they go in harm’s way. It’s not the movies. Where these soldiers go, heroes do die. They lose arms and legs. They undergo excruciating pain. Their friends die in their arms. They end up in wheel chairs. They get blown up. They get hurt in other ways. There are traumatic brain injuries, lasting, debilitating. And there are the wounds to the soul.  

And then they return to us. They are expected to seamlessly reintegrate into society. Well, lots of times it doesn’t work that way. Our soldiers see, hear, and feel things, awful things, which change them forever. When they are returned to us, they are not the same. They are the same kids, but something has happened. Some don’t talk about their experiences. They cope. For many though, there are nightmares, sudden rages, alcohol and drug binges. Some hurt themselves. Some hurt others. And they get into trouble with the law.

Cases have started coming to our attention involving veterans who have served in combat and suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Some studies estimate that in excess of 30% of the veterans returning from current war zones have PTSD. Inevitably there is going to be an acting out and some veteran’s will end up in the justice system. We want to be prepared for that eventuality.

Working with the courts, Sheriff, Chiefs of Police, and the probation department, we have formed a Veteran’s Court to deal with cases that involve our combat veterans. The first case is going through the process now. This is new. There are only two other courts operating in a similar fashion in California. We will go slow and learn as we go. Not all cases will be accepted. There is a line we will not cross, usually involving violence or weapons. But we are going to look at every case. Yes, there are risks. Yes, there will be failures. But we are going forward.

One of the enduring shames of our country was the way in which many Viet Nam vets were treated upon their return home. Efforts to reintegrate them into society were minimal and little was done to try to meet the needs of the troubled ones. There even developed a mind set that many could be dangerous. They were often made villains in movies. It was a false image, but it stuck in the popular consciousness and unfairly portrayed a generation of heroes who fought, suffered grievous wounds, and died for our country.

Our returning veterans are not trained killers to be feared and loathed. They are not to be shamed. They are to be treated with dignity and respect and, we as a society, should be prepared to go to extraordinary lengths to give them the chance, the opportunity to live the good lives they vouchsafed, through their sacrifice, for us.

Our Veteran’s court will have special screening procedures. Combat Veterans’ in trouble with the law can be referred to the program by anyone, including relatives or defense attorneys. The cases will be reviewed and a veteran’s panel made up of veterans and experts from veteran’s affairs and law enforcement agencies will screen the cases and determine eligibility for the program. If there are victims of the crime, they will be consulted and their support solicited for the referral to Veteran’s court. The judge of the Veteran’s Court will ultimately determine suitability for the program and if the veteran agrees to the procedures, he or she will be placed in an 18 month program. During that time, mental health, substance abuse and other life issues will be addressed and if the veteran fulfills all requirements, the case will be diverted out of the justice system so the veteran can reintegrate into society.

How we treat our veteran’s says more about us than them. They’ve proved their mettle. They shouldered the burden. They’ve stepped up for us. We must do no less for them. I ask the community to support our efforts in creating and sustaining Tulare County’s Veteran’s Court.