A new Nebraska law makes court diversion program available to veterans. Other states could follow

By MARGERY A. BECK
Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Those seeking to keep military veterans out of jails and prisons are shining a spotlight on a new Nebraska law that makes judicial diversion available to veterans statewide. The law makes Nebraska the first in the nation to adopt a model recommended by the Veterans Justice Commission. Now, commission leaders say at least a dozen other states are looking to follow Nebraska’s lead. The commission is co-chaired by a former U.S. senator from Nebraska and one-time Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel. He says the commission estimates that nearly 200,000 military veterans are in prisons and jails across the country.