Veterans Affairs to advocate for legal guardianship for some vets [View all]
Source: msn/WSJ
10h
The Trump administration has moved to establish legal guardianship for some homeless veterans, which could include involuntary or institutional mental health and drug addiction care. Under an agreement announced Wednesday, the Justice Department can appoint Veterans Affairs attorneys as special assistant U.S. attorneys to act in state courts, in cases where patients don’t have family to step in.
That will give them “legal authority to initiate and participate in state court guardianship or conservatorship proceedings in cases where a legal decision maker is required,” the Justice Department said. The VA said the guardianships may be needed for roughly 700 veterans stuck in the system.
Conservatorships are legal arrangements where someone appointed by a judge takes responsibility over another person. The person appointed is usually a close family member. The new system would allow the VA to initiate and take part in the legal process.
The change comes after President Trump last summer issued an executive order that called for an increase in hospitalizations, even if involuntary, to reduce homelessness and “vagrancy, disorderly behavior, sudden confrontations, and violent attacks” in the U.S. Critics of involuntary civil-commitment programs argue they violate civil liberties and stigmatize mental illness.
Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/veterans-affairs-to-advocate-for-legal-guardianship-for-some-vets/ar-AA1YqnXz
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