HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. -- Helping those who have already helped our Nation is the philosophy behind a new Christian County program expected to launch this fall.
A Veterans Court is in the works at the Christian County Justice Center, where former service members who land in time of trouble can both avoid jail time and get valuable services. Veterans Court would function in much the same way as a drug court, which already operates successfully here and allows those charged with drug-related offenses to opt for a probationary program.
"There has been a trend in the United States … in recent years to develop what are called specialty courts," explained Christian County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Self, who will head the Veterans Court. "… There are mental health courts. Veterans Court is another example of a specialty court -- really, a sub-population of the already existing court docket that is geared to a specific need and/or a specific group."
This new program would allow military Veterans to receive treatment and counseling for substance abuse and mental health problems, as well as accountability from a mentor. Any military Veteran, meaning not just retirees, will become eligible for this program if they commit a crime in Christian County. Generally, this option will be offered to those committing crimes ranging from drug possession to burglary and domestic violence and other such offenses.
"When they find themselves in a difficult situation, like going through the criminal justice system, I think that's a rallying cry for fellow Americans to come to their aid and help them in appreciation for what they have done for us," Self said.
"I think there is a real need because of our proximity to Fort Campbell. We have a significant number of Veterans … Then we see this as they come through the criminal justice system that there are these folks who have served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and come back and have had difficulty adjusting to life back in the States. And as a result of that, they sometimes, not always, but sometimes find themselves in difficulty with the law."
These individuals will receive counseling and random drug testing and they will also be required to meet with a judge periodically. In addition, participants will be informed about valuable specialty services, such as those offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs in Nashville.
"… We anticipate that we may have some former service members who have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or who have Traumatic Brain Injuries as a result of combat [and] who, for whatever reason, perhaps those reasons and others, have found themselves in the criminal justice system," Self said. "So what we want to do is we want to try to carve out that particular niche and we want to be able to focus on helping and guiding and assisting and modifying behavior with regard to Veterans."
Self sees the program as a way to not only help Veterans, but to help prevent repeat offenders. On top of the strict guidelines, the program will also connect participants with the Department of Veterans Affairs in order to provide other assistance where needed. In a population where homelessness and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder are common themes, Self considers this program to be a win for everyone involved.
"Then, as their case goes through the system and is resolved, there would be the possibility of either having what's called a diversion, which is where if they do certain things their charges are dismissed, or they would enter a guilty plea to the charge and be placed on probation and their period of probation would require that they complete Veterans Court," he said. "So either way, there's incentive for them to go through this program that we believe will be helpful to them in the long run, and would be an appropriate way to deal with whatever behavior problems they've exhibited."
In addition, the program could be a cost-saving measure for taxpayers. With Self estimating the cost of jailing an inmate for a year at $20,000, reforming an individual by way of Veterans Court would run about $4,000.
"The other difference is rather than being a drain on our taxpayer dollars, if they're in Veterans Court, they're going to be required to work," Self said. "So they're going to be required to pay child support if they owe it, they're going to be required to pay fines or restitution or whatever else there might be.
"So rather than being a drain on the taxpayers, they are actually taxpayers themselves. So in essence, it's almost as if they are in some ways paying for their own treatment program."
The Veterans Court will be the second of its kind in Kentucky, after Jefferson County began a similar program. Other such programs are being readied in both Fayette County and Hardin County, where Fort Knox is located.
Veteran-specific court programs are becoming more popular across the country, with Tennessee already sponsoring one in Montgomery County.
As part of this effort, the program is currently recruiting mentors. For more information, contact Mentor Coordinator Jeremy Smith at (502) 551-0235 or jeremysmith@kycourts.net.
"Our goal is to have mentors who were service men and women … Who speak the same language, who understand things and can relate from an experience standpoint to a lot of the things that our Veterans going through the court system have experienced as well," Self said.
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