Returning to civilian life can prove challenging for some veterans.
Service-related conditions such as post-traumatic stress syndrome, brain trauma, anxiety, depression, and chemical dependency can lead to criminal activity for even some of the most decorated heroes among us.
Thankfully, a local program is helping give veterans second chances.
Rather than putting veterans in jail, the Bartholomew County Veteran’s Treatment Court (VTC) addresses causes that lead veterans to be charged with criminal offenses.
While it’s aimed at helping veterans who have service-related issues, the program also aids those that don’t qualify for VA benefits, or haven’t been deployed, get connected to treatment facilities.
The treatment court program includes five “levels” that must be completed to graduate. Each level includes requirements for drug screenings, court visits and meeting with case managers.
The prosecutor’s office screens out applicants based on their charges, with general exclusion for serious or forcible felony offenses. Bartholomew County Superior Court 1 Judge James Worton then gets to decide who enters the program.
Most programs take 20 to 24 months to complete depending on treatment, which is determined on an individual basis. Veterans who complete the program typically get their charges reduced or dismissed and are also unlikely to return to court for criminal offenses.
Last week, six veterans graduated from the local program.
There are currently 26 VTC across the state of Indiana. Eight of those programs, including Bartholomew County, are affiliated with the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis.
Bartholomew County’s treatment court was on a provisional certificate in 2016 and became fully certified in 2017.
Since its inception, 102 veterans have been referred to the program with 48 accepted and entering the program, including veterans from other counties within the judicial district. There have been 25 participants who have graduated, 11 have been unsuccessful and two have withdrawn.
The Bartholomew County community should be proud to have a treatment court that helps veterans not only inside its county, but in the surrounding area.
It’s a total team effort locally, as partners include the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office, defense attorneys, Court Services, veterans’ service agencies, law enforcement, social service agencies, treatment providers, veteran mentors, the Indiana Office of Court Services, the Indiana Supreme Court and the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.
Indiana Supreme Court Justice Steven David described the reasoning behind the program best during the most recent graduation ceremony.
“You served voluntarily. We owed you. We owe you,” he said. “You fell down, and this community … chose you, invested in you, and you chose to succeed. And you did. And we’re so proud of you.”
All counties should consider offering, or expanding, such services. It’s the least we can do for our veterans.
