Chesterton Tribune                                                                                   Adv.

Porter County court system to offer aid to combat vets

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By JEFF SCHULTZ

Porter County Superior Court Judge Julia Jent says plans are in motion to make a veterans treatment court available in the county to provide troubled veterans with assistance instead of jail time.

Legislation was passed by the state last year that would allow the Indiana Judicial Center to certify veterans treatments court in any eligible county. The program falls under the umbrella of the Problem Solving Courts which includes drug court programs.

Jent, who is also a member of the state’s Problem Solving Courts committee, said the veterans treatment court will apply to combat veterans who have pleaded guilty to non-violent crimes or misdemeanors. The program also includes family members of the veterans.

Case managers will counsel defendants or participants in the program for alcohol and drug abuse, anger management and depression, similar to that of drug court. Many of the issues can be attributed to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder commonly experienced in some form by combat.

Those who work with the program until completion will be able to keep out of jail and some may even see their original criminal charges dropped from their record.

Jent said the program will also allow the judicial system to consult with the Army National Guard and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on the personal history of an individual vet to help determine what their needs are.

“We’ve brought them aboard so we know how veterans can get help and it’s not a financial burden for them,” said Jent.

Indiana Problem Solving Court Administrator Mary Kay Hudson said one of the factors in certifying a veterans treatment court is if they have a well established relationship with the veterans’ administration.

“It’s a great partnership,” said Hudson. “The VA has been doing a great job with outreach to criminal justice agencies and hopefully it will foster continued relationships between the VA and local criminal justice.”

She said participants benefit from an environment with people familiar with their history or have experienced the same kind of stress.

“Being with people who can relate is really important as well as recognizing the unique mental health issues that returning vets are facing,” said Hudson.

Judges also have the decision to decide if they are willing to have the veterans treatment program be a stand-along program, Hudson said, or integrate into their drug court.

So far, over 50 courts in the nation now carry the new program which first began in Buffalo, N.Y., in 2008 by Judge Robert Russell. The program was initiated to help veterans make the adjustment back to civilian life and prevent them from making further crimes.

Courts in the planning stages can request technical assistance from treatment courts already established, Hudson said.

Jent said she hoped the court would be made available in Porter County sometime by the end of this year but expects the Judicial Center to give nod on the certification sometime in January.

Jent said she hopes to expand the program’s eligibility to all veterans, not just combat, and also bring treatment to those who commit violent crimes since many veterans she sees pass through her court are commonly charged with domestic violence stemming from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

“Accountability and treatment working together will put (veterans) on the right path,” said Jent.

 

Posted 12/28/2010

 

 

 

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