Veterans treatment Court Help for our veterans at home By: Debbie (Riddle) Wilkerson

What is Veterans Treatment Court? Veterans Treatment Court is an effective program for veterans returning from warfare, and having a challenging time transitioning back into civilian life. Some veterans find security in drugs and/or alcohol to help them manage the memories they experienced while at war. This can lead to having a criminal lifestyle, and eventually, numerous service members end up in the criminal justice system. Some service members experience mental health issues, and feel they have no where to turn but the wrong side of the tracks. This Court Program offers our veterans an outlook to live a sober and established life while reconstructing their military integrity and the obligation to their loved ones and community.

BACKGROUND In January 2008, the country’s first Veterans Treatment Court was developed by a Buffalo, New York judge. Judge Robert Russell, Presiding Judge of the Buffalo Drug Court and Buffalo Mental Health Court, knew there was an increasing need for the veterans that repeatedly appeared on court dockets with criminal charges of drug/alcohol abuse and/or who were afflicted with mental health illnesses. Soon after the organization of Judge Robert Russell’s need to call awareness for this population in his courtroom, high quantities of individuals from other courts, elected officials, veterans advocate organizations and concerns Americans joined in the need to fight for the recognition of veterans entering into the Criminal Justice System. …..and so the treatment begins.

“A new courtroom system is helping struggling vets turn their lives around. Veterans treatment courts are transforming the way veterans interact with the criminal justice system.” (Take Part, 2015)

“Veterans Treatment Court is an alternative sentencing program that seeks to rehabilitate veterans with substance use or mental health treatment needs. With a grant from Veterans United Foundation, veterans united employees funded the first two years of this program.” (VUFoundation, 2015)

The success story of 53 year-old, U. S. Navy Veteran, Manuel Welch The success story of 53 year-old, U.S. Navy Veteran, Manuel Welch *Welch struggled with drug/alcohol abuse and addition for decades. He experienced multiple trips in and out of the court system. *Once he completed a 12-step program, which consisted of counseling and drug/alcohol testing, he become clean and sober. He also became mentor to other veterans participating in Veterans Treatment Court. Welch give all the credit to the Veterans Treatment Court in regarding to his recovery. "The thing that did it for me is they never give up on you," Welch said. (Gulley, 2011)

References Gulley, N. (2011, Jan. 9) References Gulley, N. (2011, Jan. 9). Nation's first veterans court counts its successes. Retrieved from Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-court-veterans-idUSTRE7082U020110109 Take Part (Producer). (2015). Veterans treatment courts explained [Video]. Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrpytvX3YSE VUFoundation (Producer). (2015). Veterans treatment court offers unique second chance [Video]. Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6HHg2ourhc ~In God We Trust~