Nevada Assembly endorses veterans court

CARSON CITY " A Nevada Assembly panel voted unanimously Thursday for a plan to set up a specialized court for military veterans charged with nonviolent crimes while struggling to readjust to civilian life.

AB187, sent by the Judiciary Committee to the full Assembly, would authorize a specialty court that would handle cases of veterans charged with such crimes and who suffer from mental or substance abuse problems stemming from their military service.

Under the plan, proposed by Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, such veterans could go through a treatment program and, if they complete the program, have their criminal file sealed.

The measure, supported by organizations that help veterans, was modeled after a veterans' court in Buffalo, N.Y. " the first of its sort in the nation. The Nevada plan is optional for any jurisdiction that wants to create such a court.

Judiciary members heard earlier testimony from Hank Pirowski, a Vietnam veteran and project director for the New York court, describing how his court has helped veterans to work their way through problems with the law.

While most of the earlier testimony on AB187 was in support of Buckley's plan, Lee Rowland of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada had opposed the bill because it creates a separate class of people charged with crimes who are treated differently based on their status as vets.

Rowland said she supports specialty courts that help people with mental or substance abuse problems and felt awkward in questioning AB187, but her concern was "an automatic free pass based on military status to certain criminal defense rights that others don't have."

Nancy Hart of the Nevada Network Against Domestic Violence also said she had concerns about the measure, and asked that lawmakers ensure that anyone charged with domestic violence not be diverted to the veterans court.

Following the lead of the veterans court in Buffalo, officials have set up similar courts in cities in Alaska, California, Oklahoma and elsewhere, and more than 20 other courts across the country are considering the plan. Buckley noted that Congress is considering proposals to help fund such courts.