Helping Those Who Fought For Us

  One of the things I like to do on my Sunday mornings off is to watch a TV show called CBS Sunday Morning. It has all different segments of music, the arts, and current events among other things. Many times I learn something from watching this program. Yesterday I learned about something called Veteran's Treatment Court.
  This is a specialized type of court that serves veterans with mental and substance abuse issues who have committed a non violent crime. It is modeled after drug and mental health courts. The goal is to give veterans who are suffering from the effects of their combat service and give them a chance to turn their lives around. The atmosphere is much like the military. The judge receives a salute and the veteran defendant stands at parade rest.
  The judges in these courts hear only cases involving veterans. They work with a team of people to find the resources so a veteran defendant has a chance to receive needed medical and mental health treatment,housing, counseling or job training.
  The program is very intense and structured. There are multiple required court appearances, mandatory treatment sessions and random substance abuse testing. It is a very structured program designed to give a veteran the support she or he needs so they will not reoffend.
  One thing that really impressed me is that a mentor is assigned to each veteran defendant. The mentor is also a veteran. This person serves as a support and accountability partner to a veteran defendant. They can also find resources as needed.  It provides a sense of camaraderie that is missed when a veteran leaves active military service. It provides a mentor the chance to serve a fellow veteran and provide a vital service to the community. These mentors receive training on how best to help those they mentor during a two day Mentor Boot Camp.
  The goal is to provide veterans with resources and support so that they can change their lives. This can keep veterans out of prison and active in their communities and their families. It's a fairly widespread program,nearly every state has at least one Veteran's Treatment Court. Many veteran's groups and criminal justice organizations support the Veteran's Treatment Courts.
  I've seen a lot of stories in the news about veterans and the challenges they face when they leave active service. We have all seen the news reports on how  federal organizations are falling down on the job when it comes to helping those who fought for us. It is refreshing to see an organization that is helping. Too many times veterans in crisis fall through the cracks. It affects not only the veteran, but their families as well. By helping a veteran to get back on his or her feet a cycle is being broken. The veteran's family has a chance as well. That is good for all of us.
  Information for this column taken from the website Justice for Vets.

For Mr. Warren, you are loved, you are missed......still......