Veterans court endorsed by Nevada Assembly

CARSON CITY — The Nevada Assembly voted unanimously Tuesday for a plan to set up a specialized court for military veterans charged with nonviolent crimes while struggling to readjust to civilian life.

AB187, sent by the Judiciary Committee to the full Assembly, would authorize a specialty court that would handle cases of veterans charged with such crimes and who suffer from mental or substance abuse problems stemming from their military service.

Under the plan, proposed by Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, such veterans could go through a treatment program and, if they complete the program, have their criminal file sealed.

The measure was modeled after a veterans' court in Buffalo, N.Y. — the first of its sort in the nation. The Nevada plan is optional for any jurisdiction that wants to create such a court.