AUGUSTA — While proposed legislation aimed at helping veterans through the creation of a veterans treatment court has already gained tremendous support, state Rep. Maeghan Maloney, D-Augusta, has reached out to veterans and others in hopes many will attend Tuesday’s public hearing on the bill.

The hearing is set for 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, in the State House. It takes place in the Judiciary Committee room on the fourth floor of the Capitol.

Within a couple weeks after the hearing, the Judiciary Committee, of which Maloney is a member, will hold a work session and vote on sending it to the Legislature, she said Friday.

In response to the November death of Justin Crowley-Smilek of Farmington, Maloney’s proposed legislation would provide a court for vets facing criminal charges. 

Farmington police Chief Jack Peck said Justin Crowley-Smilek, 28, of Farmington initially sought help from an officer inside the police station off Route 2. When an officer came outside to assist him, Peck said Crowley-Smilek pulled a large knife from his pocket, raised it and moved aggressively toward the officer, who shot and killed him.

Crowley-Smilek’s family said he was an Army Ranger suffering from severe combat stress from a major battle in Afghanistan about six years ago.

Like Crowley-Smilek, many returning veterans, even some from Vietnam, have some degree of post-traumatic stress disorder. Many get into substance abuse or legal problems, Lorna Smilek, Justin’s stepmother said.

“It’s not a free pass but recognizes veterans are in a different position than a regular person,” Smilek said. “The court would create a treatment plan to get the vets the help they need and work with them to keep them out of jail.”

Based on a New York model created in 1981, the veterans treatment court provides a volunteer veteran mentor, social workers and a Togus administrator to ensure the veteran has access to the services needed, Maloney said.

The New York court has seen a highly successful recidivism rate. Veterans who have gone through the court have not been convicted of another crime. Forty-four other states have already adopted a veterans court.

Maloney said there is enormous, bipartisan support for the bill. Gov. Paul LePage and Maj. Gen. John W. Libby have both expressed their support, she added.

Any opposition has come from misunderstandings about it. Some thought veterans would be forced to go to a different court, but the veteran can choose to remain in the normal court system or transfer to veterans treatment court.

It’s up to the judicial branch to oversee the creation, but Maloney anticipates a Monday court in Augusta to start and then branching out with the help of federal grants to other sites throughout the state.

Smilek strongly believes that mandatory treatment options such as doctors’ orders could have helped Justin, who faced several legal charges after his return from war.

“We’re excited. This could help many people already here, including Vietnam vets,” she said.

There are a lot of people coming back to Maine, people in the Reserves and National Guard, who have no transition from combat to home, Maloney said.

“With the timing of everything … it just makes sense,” she said.

While Maine doesn’t name laws, Maloney will put a dedication in the summary of the bill recognizing Justin Crowley-Smilek for his service as an Army Ranger.

abryant@sunjournal.com

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