The 4th Judicial Circuit Veterans Treatment Court signed up Wednesday for a three-year tour of duty.
In a ceremony at the Duval County Courthouse, it became one of only four national mentor courts under the auspices of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, Justice for Vets and the U.S. Department of Justice.
For the next three years, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, court administrators, social service providers and other advocates from across the U.S. will come to Jacksonville.
They’ll learn how to implement and sustain a system that helps veterans avoid being convicted in the criminal court system by participating in court-supervised substance abuse and mental health treatment.
“It will help us make sure we up our standards and maintain our standards,” said Magistrate John Sampson, who presides over the Dependency Drug Court program.
“The core principle is smart justice,” he added. “We want to take care of people before they get really in trouble.”
The program is available to current and former military service members who have been arrested for a criminal offense.
The goal is to provide a non-adversarial treatment strategy for veteran defendants who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, psychological conditions, traumatic brain injury and/or alcohol or drug abuse.
Administrative Judge Don Lester, who presides over the Clay County Veterans Court, said the program is based on helping veterans by reconnecting them with traits they learned and the structure they lived under during their military service.
“It’s about discipline, mission and teamwork. When they come into our court, I’m their commanding officer and they understand it’s a second chance,” he said.
Lester said the minimum one-year program is an “effective allocation of judicial resources” and has positive effects for the court system as well.
“Everyone who goes through this system doesn’t go through the other courts,” he said.
It’s a proven path for a veteran to get back on track after running afoul of the law.
In the three years since the program began in Clay County, nearly 30 veterans have completed the program, with only one case of recidivism, Lester said.
The designation of the program for veterans as a national mentor court means all three of the 4th Circuit’s problem-solving diversion programs, including those for teens and adults, are now considered models that will share best practices and their success with other jurisdictions, said Trial Court Administrator Joe Stelma.
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