NASHVILLE, TN (WLAF)- Six Tennessee counties have developed special diversionary courts aimed at lending a hand and focused approach to veterans who are struggling and find themselves on the wrong side of the law. These special Veterans Treatment Courts recognize the transition from military to civilian life is not always smooth or easily navigated and focus on providing resources and treatments that may be more effective than punishment alone.

Veterans Treatment Court was born in Buffalo, NY, in 2008. It was the idea of Judge Robert Russell, who noticed the number of veterans in his drug and mental health courts was on the rise. He developed Veterans Treatment Court to steer veteran-defendants charged with felony or misdemeanor non-violent criminal offenses to a specialized criminal court docket.

Tennessee’s six Veterans Treatment Courts are located in Blount, Davidson, Knox, Montgomery, Shelby and Williamson Counties. Although each operates a little differently, the process of connecting veterans with the program is similar. Once someone is bonded, they are asked if they served in the military. If they answer yes, they are flagged and sent to the admissions director. When that veteran is appointed a lawyer, the lawyer can contact the court if there is interest in joining the program. The veteran’s lawyer fills out the admissions request, then the court accesses the Veteran’s discharge papers. If everything checks out, a request to enter Veterans Court is sent to the state prosecutor for review. The state prosecutor contacts the victim(s) to ask how they feel about this veteran participating in Veterans Treatment Court. A victim’s response does not control the outcome, but can be persuasive. Once approved, the veteran is given a contract to sign.

The focus of Veterans Treatment Court is treatment and rehabilitation, not punishment.

Veterans Treatment Court is a hands-on program that involves clinical treatment, as well as Moral Recognition Treatment (MRT). MRT is an evidence-based treatment curriculum that involves weekly workbook assignments.

According to a 2018 study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), eight percent of those serving time in state and federal prisons or local jails are veterans.

What is unique about Veterans Treatment Court is the use of mentors. Most, but not all, were members of the military themselves. That Veteran-to-Veteran aspect makes a difference in getting through to  participants.

The mentoring aspect can build trust early in the process.

Mentors can also utilize the veteran’s training when developing a program and treatment.

It usually takes participants one to two years to complete Veterans Treatment Court, and it is an intense process that takes a large time commitment each week as well as emotional investment. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED 11/15/2021- 6AM)