LA supervisors lead justice reform for struggling veterans

Imagine for a moment the journey of a veteran who patrolled the dusty roads of Afghanistan, or a sailor who braved the stormy seas in defense of our freedoms. These men and women answered the call of duty with unwavering courage, only to return home haunted by invisible wounds--PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, substance use disorders--that too often lead them into the cold grip of the criminal justice system. They had stepped off a plane after the dust and danger of combat, heart pounding not from fear of enemy fire anymore, but from the silence--the deafening quiet of home. The nightmares don't stop. The guilt lingers. The invisible wounds fester. One bad night, one desperate choice, and suddenly that hero is in handcuffs, facing a courtroom that sees only the crime, not the sacrifice.

In Los Angeles County, with over 232,000 veterans calling it home, too many of them have walked this lonely path--haunted battlefield memories, addiction born of pain, leading to homelessness, despair and, heartbreakingly, the highest risk of suicide. They fought for us. They came home broken. And for far too long, the system responded with bars instead of healing arms.

Change is happening. Real, life-saving change. And it is being led by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors who refused to turn away, who choose mercy over judgment, healing over punishment. In August 2024, they unanimously passed a motion to transform how we support justice-involved veterans, declaring that these men and women deserve coordinated care, treatment and dignity--not just another cell door slamming shut. This wasn't politics; it was a promise kept to those who kept their promise to us.

From that motion sprang the Justice-Involved Veterans Subcommittee--veteran-led, veteran-driven--where those who have lived the struggle now shape the solutions. They are building bridges between courts, the Veterans Administration (VA), probation and community partners. They are expanding Veterans Treatment Courts, like the one at Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, where judges don't just sentence--they listen, they encourage, they fight for redemption alongside the veteran.

Through trauma-informed programs, peer mentorship from fellow veterans, and seamless partnerships with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (MVA) and the VA, these courts reduce recidivism, restore dignity and reintegrate our veterans into society. And the numbers speak volumes: Studies show that participants in such programs experience lower re-arrest rates, improved mental health and stronger community ties.

These aren't just statistics; it is lower recidivism, better mental health and restored lives. These are fathers hugging their children again. Mothers rebuilding trust. Warriors finding peace after years of war within. Los Angeles County is investing in peer mentors who speak the same language of service, in trauma-informed care that honors the uniform, in a model now praised statewide and beyond.

This leadership touches the soul because it says: You are not forgotten. You are not a lost cause. Your service still matters. In a world quick to judge, the Board of Supervisors is choosing to heal. Why does this leadership matter? Because in a nation that asks so much of its service members, we owe them more than lip service--we owe them justice tempered with mercy. They are proving that true patriotism isn't just waving a flag--it's extending a hand to the veteran breaking on the sidewalk, the one crying in a courtroom, the one who whispers, "I should be dead or in jail." Instead, they say, "You are worth saving. We will fight for you like you fought for us."

Justice-involved veterans: you are seen, and you are valued. And because of leaders like the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, you have a real shot at coming home--not just to a house, but to a life worth living. Know that in Los Angeles County, you are not forgotten; you are supported, and you are on the path to redemption. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors have demonstrated exemplary leadership and shown us that true patriotism extends beyond the battlefield--it's in the courtroom, the treatment center and the community where every veteran finds not just justice, but healing and hope.

The views expressed here are the author's and not those of the California Military Department or the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.