People unknowingly put themselves in dangerous situations every day. There is no limit for the potentially harmful circumstances that we can enter. But like car crashes and work accidents, those things are unintentional; they are not thought out or prepared for in advance.
Some very brave people put themselves in intentional danger every day for our country. The fight is gruesome, and it leaves scars. The least we can do is offer help for our returning soldiers who are now fighting a battle within.
Florida has the second-largest veteran population in the nation, and approximately 29,000 of them may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or some form of major depression, according to the suicide prevention site HelpPromoteHope.com. About half of these veterans who met the criteria for PTSD or major depression did not seek help. According the Florida Department of Corrections, there are about 7,000 state prison inmates who were identified as military veterans.
These statistics hint at the connection between a veteran's mental health problems and the crimes they commit. The Florida Senate agreed on this by passing the T. Patt Maney Veterans' Treatment Intervention Act last month, and now it's up to the House to follow through.
The bill allows for counties to create rehab-like programs for veterans who are charged with a criminal defense if they suffer from PTSD, traumatic brain injury, substance abuse disorder or other psychological problems that stem from service. A pre-sentencing hearing is required for a veteran to prove they are suffering mentally, and if the court approves, the veteran has to complete the program for the charges to be dismissed.
There are those who question the bill based on the cases of extreme violence, like ex-Marine Itzcoatl Ocampo, who was charged with killing four homeless men, according to the Orlando Sentinel. But it should be known that those cases are rare and unprotected under the act. Only a few of the offenses would not qualify for the program: kidnapping, murder and sexual battery.
Studies done by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs have shown that returning soldiers with PTSD are more likely to experience trouble with the law, though other factors could contribute. Returning home with PTSD often causes soldiers to have flashbacks, making them think that they are in a dangerous situation where they are more likely to be violent. Veterans suffering from PTSD often live in a state of perceived threat and mistrust, which could make them more aggressive. Also, their beliefs on the justice system could be skewed from combat, making them less likely to obey the law.
This problem cannot go unnoticed, and the immediate response is to lock these people up because they are a danger to society. But what also needs to be known is that these people are more than just veterans. They are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and friends. They have witnessed and experienced things that we will not ever be able to relate to on the home front. When someone commits an act of extreme violence, then yes, I agree there should be no other option besides jail. But when the behavior of a person accused of a crime stems from a mental disorder they developed from duty, we need to take another look.
PTSD is impacting the lives of our veterans more then they will ever let us see. Voluntary treatment is available, and of course it's preferred that soldiers get help before it is too late, but sometimes there is embarrassment or a lack of understanding of PTSD for them to ever do anything about it. Veterans put their lives at stake to preserve our freedom — supporting them is the least we can do.
By Emily Blackwood
www.centralfloridafuture.com
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