Defending veterans in the criminal court system isn’t a cottage industry. The increase in demand for attorneys to take on clients who may have served recently in Iraq or Afghanistan or years ago in Desert Storm or Vietnam, isn’t slowing down. And the more that is understood about the realities of PTSD, TBI, substance abuse, and other issues related to combat, the stronger the need for professionals able to provide appropriate defense and argue effectively for treatment during the sentencing phase of trial.

There is a growing library of journal articles and published texts that cover the latest research in these areas. The knowledge base is currently the largest and most qualified and quantified ever. The pool of experts has not reached a saturation point, but their numbers have grown substantially in recent years. However, the need for practical, hands-on material that litigators can pick up and put to immediate use remains quite limited.

The National Veterans Foundation (NVF), with its nearly three-decade history of dedication to providing practical, no-nonsense attention to the needs of veterans, decided to go beyond it mission statement of:

• Serving the crisis management, information and referral needs of all U.S. veterans and their families through management and operation of the nation’s only toll-free helpline for all veterans and their families;
• Providing public awareness programs that shine a consistent spotlight on the needs of America’s veterans; and
• Creating outreach services that provide veterans and families in need with food, clothing, transportation, employment, and other essential resources.

The NVF decided to fund the writing and publication of a tool that would serve defense attorneys in their efforts to provide the best services to their veteran clients suffering from legitimate combat-related issues. It was clear from the beginning of the project that material used come from outstanding experts from the legal, medical and mental health fields. That objective has been accomplished.

A solid defense for veterans involved in criminal cases, that could utilize a combat-related impairment position, was one objective. The second was to provide a firm foundation for attorneys to argue effectively, if needed, for treatment during incarceration. This project was not initiated to create a “get out of jail card” for veterans on trial. The purpose was to create the best defense and back it up with efforts to provide ongoing post-trial treatment.

Read Sample Chapters:

Combat Trauma Overview

Final - Sario - Brat Dog

Endorsements:

"The Attorneys Guide to Defending Veterans in Criminal Court is a vital resource to serve the growing number of returning veterans who face charges stemming from service-related substance abuse to mental health issues. By using the criminal justice system as an intervention tool, we can connect our veterans to the treatment they earned through military service and ensure they do not fall through the cracks into chronic incarceration and homelessness."

Martin Sheen
Actor & Veterans Advocate

"Shad Meshad shows that no matter what our broken places are in life we can become strong at those broken places.  His life and work are testimonies to the fact that though wounded by war or life we can find strength in our friends and love in our surroundings if we look for them.  By his example, we know that through our wounding we can become healers of others if we try. This book is a testament to the spirit and life work of this man and the organization he created. May it be used by all in service to those who have given so much to our great nation."

Max Cleland
Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission
United States Senator from Georgia
Administrator of the United States Veterans Affairs
Member of the Georgia State Senate
United States Army (1965-1968), Captain Silver Star, Bronze Star, Soldier's Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal