KOKOMO, Ind. (WISH) — Some veterans in trouble with the law will have the chance to avoid jail time by participating in a new program to help steer their lives in the right direction.
It’s called veterans court. It’s already being done in several places around the state, including Marion and Hamilton counties, but a new program kicked off this week to help more veterans in four other Indiana counties: Howard, Miami, Cass and Fulton.
Supporters said the program can make sure there are life-changing results for soldiers transitioning back to civilian life.
No matter the war, veterans say the war does not truly end when they come home.
“Anybody that has been in combat brings back something,” said John Meeks, the commander at VFW Post 1152 in Kokomo. “They just bring it back with them.”
Sometimes demons follow them home as they leave a tight-knit military community and return to the civilian world. And that can lead to a dangerous, downward spiral to drugs and crime.