Veterans Treatment Courts expanding, evolving By Bryan Lett udge Robert Russell is no stranger to establishing courts. He created the drug treatment court in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1995 and the city’s mental health treatment court in 2002, providing offenders a comprehensive approach to address addiction, dependency and mental health issues that can lead to legal or criminal issues. During his time on the bench overseeing these courts, Russell also began to notice an influx of veterans on his court dockets, and he decided it was time to address the problem. Judge Robert Russell delivers the third annual DAV Distinguished Russell recognized that many veterans Speaker Lecture at Harvard Law School. Russell founded the first Veterans Treatment Court in 2008 and spoke about the court’s have a difficult time readjusting to life beginning and the path ahead. after service. He proposed a court program designed specifically to address the needs of veterans in the criminal justice system and connect volunteer,” said Russell. “His or her motto is to leave them to the benefits and treatment they earned while no one behind. They are co-facilitators, advisories and serving. Russell then began organizing meetings with sponsors for support.” representatives from the Department of Veterans In Wisconsin, Veterans Treatment Court mentor Affairs, various veterans groups and volunteer veterans and DAV Chapter 17 Junior Vice Commander Mike from the community to plan the concept of the Hert noted the importance of stepping in to help guide Veterans Treatment Court. veterans going through the program. In January 2008, Russell established and began “As mentors, we embody the DAV mission as we presiding over the nation’s very first Veterans Treatment ensure the dignity and respect of the mentees while Court in Buffalo. Today, there are over 300 such courts assisting them with reaching their God-given potential,” across the country. said Hert. Russell recently reflected on the court’s beginning, “We encourage members who want to get involved his motivation for the project and the path ahead while and give back to consider volunteering as a mentor for delivering the third annual DAV Distinguished Speaker this program,” said DAV National Voluntary Services Lecture at Harvard Law School. Director John Kleindienst. “This is a long-term “When I think about Veterans Treatment Court, what investment of time but is truly a life-changing way of differs from my drug court or my mental health court helping a fellow veteran in need.” is the prior experiences of our veterans,” said Russell. The court reflects the structure of a military unit: The “Those prior experiences really can be a tremendous judge becomes the commanding officer; the volunteer benefit. We are looking at a group of individuals— veteran mentors act as fire team leaders; the court team men and women who served—who have patriotism, becomes the company staff; and the veteran defendants camaraderie, teamwork and self-reliance. How can become the troops. we tap into that spirit to give them the best opportunity The 2015 Bureau of Justice Statistics report, at success?” “Veterans in Prison and Jail, 2011–2012,” indicates that Russell found his answer in the veterans who more than 20,000 veterans who served in combat in volunteer to be mentors. Iraq or Afghanistan are in jail or prison. The report “The secret sauce is the men and women who also shows that veterans serving out a sentence are 16 DAV MAGAZINE MARCH | APRIL 2017 J
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Veterans Treatment Courts expanding, evolving
Bryan Lett
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