Buffalo Veterans Treatment Court

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Veronica Day
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1 Buffalo Veterans Treatment Court Judge Robert Russell Serving Justice- Involved Veterans Conference Austin, Texas

2 Buffalo s s Experience :Veterans Tx Court Treatment Court Background-Drug & Mental Health Courts Veterans seen in Treatment Courts Facilitation by fellow Veterans Visit to Buffalo Veterans Hospital Advisory Board, (WNY) V.A. Director Michael Finnegan Community forums with Veterans Health Care, the Court and Community Behavioral Health Care Providers-Keynote Speaker Deputy Under Secretary William Feeley

3 Veterans Court A specialized criminal court docket Established to address the needs of veterandefendants with substance dependency and/or mental illness issues Primarily non violent felony or misdemeanor offenses Substitution of treatment problem solving model for traditional court processing

4 Veterans Project COURTS (County wide) TREATMENT VET. TX. COURT VETERAN SERVICES COMMUNITY

5 Our Mission To successfully habilitate veterans by diverting them from the traditional criminal justice system and providing them with the tools they need in order to lead a productive and law-abiding lifestyle. Our Goal Our program s goal is to reduce the veterans inappropriate behavior while helping them turn their lives around. We will find them, offer them assistance, assess their needs, manage their care and help them solve their problems.

6 Our Objective To provide Veterans with substance abuse, alcoholism and mental health treatment coupled with academic/vocational skills improvement, while actively assisting with residential, outpatient and/or transitional services leading to job placement and job retention.

7 EARLY IDENTIFICATION Veterans are identified through evidence based screening and assessments. They voluntarily participate in a judicially supervised treatment plan that a team of court staff, veteran health care professionals, veteran peer mentors, AOD health care professionals and mental health professionals develop with the veteran.

9 Veterans Age Breakdown or over Age breakdown Veterans Era Type of Charges Grenada 3% Vietnan 24% Irak/Aftanistan 52% Misdemeanor 40% Felonies 60% Persian Gulf 21%

10 Employment Status Employed 27% Unemploye d 73% Primary Drug of Choice Marijuana 19% Benzoids 1% Opiates 9% Crack/Cocaine 31% Alcohol 40%

11 Percentage of Veterans with Mental Health Disorders Defendants with Mental Health Diagnosis 52% No Mental Health Diagnosis 48% Percentage of Veterans with Mental Health Disorders Schizophrenia 14% Bipolar Disorders 17% Personality Disorder 2% PTSD 35% Depression 32%

12 Unique Components Court entirely of Veterans In Court: Veterans Health Care Worker(s) Veteran Mentors Therapeutic Environment Hybrid Drug & Mental Health Court

13 V.A. Health Care Worker Tamekia Slaughter, (SATS) Veterans Justice Outreach, Tel # Liaison Obtaining VA Releases of Information Facilitating VA linkages for services Coordinating and providing VA status report regarding Tx, toxs, appointments, etc. Case management & crisis management

14 FEDERAL OFFICE OF VETERANS BENEFIT AFFAIRS Carly Klein and Timothy Philo, Veteran Service Representatives & Liaison Obtaining VA Releases of Information Facilitate processing or review of Pension Disability Benefits Process review of potential errors or corrections on veterans DD214

15 Challenge Overcoming Warrior mentality

16 Veteran Mentors Leave no one behind

17 Peter Reibel Mentor Group All volunteer force of Veterans who are paired up with court participants to provide support and guidance throughout the process Provides limited assistance to court participants in the form of transportation (bus passes and NFTA tokens) Other assistance (rent money to avoid eviction, furniture, utilities) to those in need Jack O Connor, Mentor Coordinator 716/ oconnorj@erie.gov

19 Veteran Mentors Role Coach Facilitator Advisor Sponsor Support

21 KEY COMPONENTS Key Components adapted from Drug Treatment and Mental Health Treatment Courts

23 Services, Education, and Rehabilitation for Veterans Act or the SERV Act. S. 902: Introduced April 27, 2009 by Senators KERRY (MA.), Ms. MURKOWSKI (AK) and Mr. DURBIN(IL.),& Mr. Inouye (HI), which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary H. R. 2138: Introduced April 28, 2009 by Congresspersons KENNEDY(R.I.), Mr. HIGGINS (N.Y.), and Ms. SUTTON (OH.) which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Total of 25 Co-Sponsors. -Grants for Veterans Treatment Courts-

24 CONTACT INFORMATION JUDGE ROBERT RUSSELL JACK O CONNOR, Mentor Coor HANK PIROWSKI, Project Director Tamekia Slaughter, VJO Carly Klien, & Timothy Philo, VSR, &

25 Thank you for your support

Buffalo Veterans Treatment Court

Buffalo Veterans Treatment Court Judge Robert T. Russell Presiding Veterans Treatment Court Judge Erie County & Buffalo City Courts Jack O Connor Donna Leigh Hank Pirowski Coordinator, Veteran Mentors