http://www.action-alameda-news.com/2010/03/09/exploratory-meeting-on-proposed-veterans-courts-at-high-street-station-cafe/ Local news in Alameda, California. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:08:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.action-alameda-news.com/2010/03/09/exploratory-meeting-on-proposed-veterans-courts-at-high-street-station-cafe/comment-page-1/#comment-4084 Barb Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:47:21 +0000 http://www.action-alameda-news.com/?p=3695#comment-4084 This is a sentencing statute only. At a time when the California court system is suffering (not unlike our school district and city) from the financial downturn in the economy, judges are unlikely to expend additional funds pre-conviction. If the VA has funds to expend on psychiatrict evaluations of veterans pre-conviction, the courts will allow this. A competent diagnosis may influence the ultimate diposition and treatment of a veteran defendant. But the courts already have a furlough day in which all courts are shut down one day a month (the 3rd Wednesday) due to lack of funds. Due to only an occassional defendant qualifying for such a special presentencing evaluation and the fact that the statute itself applies post conviction, establishing a special court will not happen. This is a sentencing statute only. At a time when the California court system is suffering (not unlike our school district and city) from the financial downturn in the economy, judges are unlikely to expend additional funds pre-conviction. If the VA has funds to expend on psychiatrict evaluations of veterans pre-conviction, the courts will allow this. A competent diagnosis may influence the ultimate diposition and treatment of a veteran defendant. But the courts already have a furlough day in which all courts are shut down one day a month (the 3rd Wednesday) due to lack of funds. Due to only an occassional defendant qualifying for such a special presentencing evaluation and the fact that the statute itself applies post conviction, establishing a special court will not happen.

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