Morano Q&A with Kapner: expanding Veterans Court capacity
Morano asks what city government could do to expand Veterans Court's influence. Kapner recommends expanding available spots and beds, shortening the screening process to reduce jail time, and expanding the veterans pod within DOC facilities, which currently has a waiting list.
What do you think the city could do, either in terms of the city council passing a law, in terms of funding, in terms of outreach, in terms of agency behavior,
that would expand the influence and the usefulness of veterans'courts?
You know, one of the tricky things about the criminal justice system is so much of it involves state law, so much of it involves policies of local DA's office.
What could city government do to enhance outreach or the usefulness of these veterans courts?
I think the standout thing is just the expansion of the spots available.
There's a limitation on spots.
There's just so many beds, and there's sadly a lot of need.
So just having those spots available and perhaps...
The screening process sometimes can take a long time.
So shortening this, every day behind jail is very stressful and traumatic, and it just makes recovery that much harder.
So to shorten the time between you're being considered for treatment court, veterans court,
accepted or rejected.
Just shortening that time can be very beneficial.
But I will also say that I know that there's a veterans pod within the Department of Corrections.
And I also
Last time I checked, there was a waiting list for veterans to get into it.
So that could be expanded just in DOC treatment for veterans and all mental health, but veterans especially, that would be helpful, that they could concentrate and focus their efforts on veterans.
Thank you very much, Mr.
Kaepernick.
Mr.
O'Grady.