VALOR Act Helps Massachusetts Veterans Who Are Accused of Crimes

Veterans of our nation's armed services may be eligible for a special program designed to help them through the court system should they find themselves accused of committing a crime.  The law is called "An Act Relative to Veterans' Access, Livelihood, Opportunity, and Resources," also known as the VALOR Act. The purpose of the Valor Act is to provide veterans, who have been honorably discharged from any branch of the United States Armed Forces, with an evaluation given by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services, to see if they are eligible to go into a diversion program, instead of going into the traditional justice system.  The act actually provides for many more benefits to veterans than just the criminal diversion program.

The diversion program provides veterans with a chance rehabilitate and improve their mental health by being placed into a program that is specialized to their needs.  Each participant will has an individualized treatment plan, in which they must follow exactly, to stay in the program. The participants  regularly meet with their case manager to be evaluated on their progress. The participants must adhere to all of the conditions of the Veterans Court Diversion Program, to remain in the program. The Valor Act provides a second chance for veterans who have had no prior convictions or trouble with the law (with the exception of traffic violations), so that they will be able to better function in society. Upon completion of this program or community service, the criminal case will be dismissed and the veterans’ record will remain clean.

This is a great program for those veterans who qualify, although not all veterans are eligible for the program and each case must be examined before the diversion program can be made an option.  The main theory behind the program is that veterans, who have become emotionally/mentally scarred as a result of service in the military, should be treated differently when they are accused of a crime.

There are time limits for trying to get into the diversion program after arrest.  Currently, there is only one special Veteran's Treatment Court in Norfolk County, but more courts are planned to open throughout Massachusetts.  However, a Veteran's Treatment Court in a specific county is not necessary to take advantage of the program.

Please feel free to contact one of the attorneys at Bohnet & Romani, P.A. if you should have any questions about this special program for veterans. (413) 283-6455 www.Bohnet-Romani.com

This article was prepared with the assistance of Amanda Scungio.