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NATIONAL MEDIA:
An alternative to jail for veterans
Veteran Treatment Court offers vets an alternative to jail.
Why Veterans Should Get Their Own Courts
Nearly 80 veterans courts have sprung up across the country over the past four years, and 20 more are expected to open by the end of this year. Most consider only those veterans who are struggling with mental-health or substance-abuse problems.
Special Courts Turn to Vets to Help Other Vets
Veterans treatment courts like Buffalo’s are sprouting in courtrooms across the country, with 80 having been established in the past 3½ years. The growth—largely independent of the federal government—has been sparked by the recognition of judges, prosecutors, public defenders and legislators that a significant number of veterans are returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with mental health issues that can manifest themselves in criminal acts both great and small, and that steering them toward treatment they may have initially rejected will benefit society in the long run.
A special court tries to keep troubled veterans out of prison 
Nearly
a fifth of the homeless population in the United States are veterans.
Substance abuse is pervasive. Many more have mental-health problems,
which often lead to criminal behaviour. Robert Russell, a judge in
Buffalo, New York, after noticing an increasing number of veterans on
his docket, in 2008 created the first court specialised and adapted to
meet the needs of veterans.
Special courts help vets regain discipline
The court, like more than 50 others created over the past three years across the nation, specializes in working with troubled veterans to get them counseling, link them to government benefits, help them regain the sense of discipline and camaraderie they had in uniform, and steer them onto a more positive course in life.
Second Chance for Veterans
Santa Ana, California (CNN) -- Veteran by veteran, Orange County, California, Superior Court Judge Wendy Lindley is dispensing justice with tough talk and a little cheerleading to the former servicemen who've returned from war in Iraq or Afghanistan.
New Minn. Court Helps Vets Accused OF Crimes
The Pentagon estimates that as many as 1 in 5 of the more than 1.6 million veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan will suffer from mental health problems. As some of these vets get in trouble with the law and become entwined in the criminal justice system, states are looking for new ways to help.
Defendants Fresh From War Find Service Counts in Court
At the state level, special courts to deal with the problems of veterans are being formed across the nation, modeled on the special courts to deal with drug and mental health issues. Twenty-one veterans courts are in operation, said West Huddleston, the chief executive officer of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.
Veterans Suspected of Crimes Swap Guilty Pleas for Rehabilitation
There are more than 20 veterans courts around the country. The first was started in Buffalo, New York, two years ago. Like drug courts that began in the 1980s, they're based on the idea of treating defendants for underlying problems in order to prevent future criminal activity.
Yet he was to be given a second chance when he landed in front of Judge Patricia Marks. Marks had just started a special court designed to give veterans who commit nonviolent crimes a second chance.
A Separate Peace: Why veterans deserve special courts
We also know that close supervision and monitoring work better than casting our most vulnerable citizens adrift. Veterans deserve special treatment for their service, and the fact that veterans' courts seem to work as well as they do suggests that politicians needn't justify their existence beyond that fact.
Judges Consider New Factor at Sentencing: Military Service
But momentum for special treatment is growing. Since last year, about 16 counties and cities -- from California's Orange County, to three cities in western New York, have started veterans courts, according to the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.
A courtroom just for veteransWhen the veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan get home some face tremendous challenges, and that can include run-ins with the law. Now a court in Buffalo, New York, the first of its kind, they are getting help.
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Veterans Fight For An Alternative Justice System That Takes Their Trauma Into Account
Each vet who goes through the system will be assigned a mentor, also a veteran, to serve as a sort of sponsor/ parole officer, helping them through their issues and reporting progress and pitfalls back to the judge.
N.Y. court gives veterans chance to straighten out
"It's just a fantastic idea, instead of punishing them, honoring them for their service," said C. West Huddleston, CEO of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, a non-profit organization started in 1994 to advocate for drug courts. "Unfortunately, the courts are seeing an increase in veterans emerging who have some real specialized needs," he said. "Ultimately we're trying to save people's lives and transform them back to health."
Courts for veterans spreading across U.S.
State court judges are joining with local prosecutors, public defenders, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs officials and local lawyer volunteers to create courts with veterans-only case proceedings, because they have seen a common thread of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, head injuries and mental illness underlying the veterans' crimes.
A judge in Buffalo, New York, wants to give veterans with legal troubles a second chance instead of time behind bars. Judge Robert Russell talks about the Veterans Treatment Court, the first program of its kind aimed at keeping veterans out of jail.
Bill to Create Veteran Treatment Courts
The SERV Act would authorize funds to go to the Office of National Drug Control Policy for the development and implementation of veteran’s treatment courts or to enhance operational drug courts to serve veterans.
RECENT LOCAL MEDIA:
First class finishes Veterans Court – The Mansfield Journal, OH
Montgomery County creating special court for veterans – The Mercury, PA
Legislature Honors Judge Robert Russell and Veterans Treatment Court – WKBW TV, NY
Idaho court would assist veterans who land in the legal system in getting help — instead of hard time – The Idaho Statesman, ID
A new approach to veterans' justice – Southeast Missourian, MO
District judge looking to help troubled area veterans – The Marshall Independent, MN
Wilson announces new program for veterans – The Berkley Independent, SC
Veterans: Special court makes practical sense (Editorial) – The Florida Times-Union, FL
Veterans Court (Editorial) – The Courier Press, IL
Miami-Dade starts specialized Drug Court for military veterans – The Miami Herald, FL
First Federal VTC opens in Utah – The Deseret News, UT
Queens Court for Veterans Aims to Help, Not Punish – The New York Times, NY
Palm Beach County VTC Opens - WPTV TV, FL
Special court starts up to help Chippewa Valley veterans - WQOW TV, WI
Veterans Court swears in mentors - La Crosse Tribune, WI
Vanderburgh County Establishes a Veteran Court – WTVW TV, IN
