Oklahoma City approves alternative sentencing for Veterans with PTSD

Committee approves alternative sentencing for Veterans with PTSD
OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation approved by a House committee would allow veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury (TBI) to receive treatment when they are convicted of a crime

House Bill 1081, by state Rep. John Bennett, would allow a judge to send a military veteran convicted of a crime to the Department of Veterans Affairs for treatment if the defendant was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

Bennett, a Marine who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, said the PTSD or TBI would have to be service-related and have contributed to the commission of the crime.

“Many veterans are struggling to cope with PTSD and TBI, and are not seeking the treatment they need,” Bennett, R-Sallisaw, said. “My legislation will help them to get treatment, which I believe they have earned through their service to our country. This is not an opportunity for someone to commit a crime and blame it on PTSD. You have to be diagnosed with the condition, it has to be service-related, and it has to have played a role in the commission of the crime.”

As a private citizen, Bennett worked with Matt Stiner and state Rep. Fred Jordan (R-Jenks), all Marine veterans, to help create the state’s first veteran’s court, an alternative sentencing venue for veterans struggling with addiction due, in part, to PTSD.
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Alternative sentencing for Veterans with PTSD