Of course, you will note that the response was asking them to take care of the problem before the veteran in trouble got in to TOO MUCH trouble. This implies that these folks was not given a free pass, but were directed to services - likely in addition to any criminal penalties, or with the threat of such penalties hanging over them (much the same opportunity as I presume your family member once had). This same thing happens out here - I see it with some frequency. The problem is, far too often - as Ashman pointed out - the veteran fails to follow through or seek out assistance.
The state can NOT just grab the veterans in trouble up off the street and force them in to treatment. We have a guy here who just yesterday tried to kill himself ... he's a veteran of Iraq and may have PTSD. he hasn't gotten in to trouble with the law before, but he has had a lot of stress and numerous VA referrals. Unfortunately, he blows them off, tells family he's fine, and on the rare occasion the family would actually get him to the VA, he'd blow off the treatment or fail to attend any future meetings.
My best friend is in Medical Services for the Army and says that one of the hardest elements of his job is convincing returning veterans to follow through with therapy or to even acknowledge they might NEED therapy. Too many try to ignore the problem or tough it out ... this is the wrong thing to do, but he has no alternative.
The state cannot MAKE someone accept treatment. If your family member has sought the help he needs and is working towards recovery, great! I can only hope he will go forth and commit no more crimes. If he has not received the aid he needs, then hopefully his family can assist him in getting the aid. In the meantime, if he breaks the law and puts lives at risk, he will be punished accordingly.
Good luck to him.
- Carl

