Criminal Prosecution of Military Veterans
Nearly one-fourth of all Oregon prison inmates are military veterans. At Mark C. Cogan, P.C., we take great pride in representing those who have served our country. That number is growing all the time, but we have found ways to be part of the solution.
Whether a veteran has served in combat overseas or in the U.S., the needs of veterans are usually different from other criminal defendants and should be brought to the attention of the court. When veterans return home, many are in need of services, like counseling and housing, which are not always immediately available. The skills that helped them survive in a hostile environment may not support civilian life as well. The competence and composure veterans develop in the service can disappear quickly.
Until 2010, veterans were treated the same as all other criminal defendants. Now, after Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 999, veterans receive special consideration through programs designed just for veterans of our Armed Forces. SB 999 allows for veterans to get the help that they need, help that can lead to dismissal of all criminal charges. Whether a veteran has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, or other physical or psychological impairments, the attorneys at Mark C. Cogan, P.C. are sympathetic, understanding, and very aggressive in obtaining a diversion outcome for military veterans.
A diversion program under SB 999 shows appropriate respect for the law, while also giving due consideration for one’s service to our country. At Mark C. Cogan, P.C., our attorneys work with other licensed professionals such as psychologists and university professors, along with volunteers and employees of the Veteran’s Administration and Veteran Advocates, in order to achieve a result that is proper under all the circumstances.
If you are a military veteran and you are in trouble with the law, there is much that can be done to preserve the respect and dignity that you deserve as a veteran of our Nation’s Armed Forces.
