New veterans court prepares to open

Published: Monday, 12/29/2014

BY LAUREN LINDSTROM BLADE STAFF WRITER

A dedicated docket for veterans will begin in Toledo Municipal Court early next year, aimed at connecting justice-involved veterans with treatment to avoid incarceration.

The courts goal is to intervene and address underlying issues for veterans, charged with misdemeanors, who are deemed a high risk to reoffend, often because of mental health or substance abuse issues. Post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries also may be contributing factors.

To qualify for the court, veterans must plead guilty or no contest. Its a partnership among the court, probation officers, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which provides the treatment for the program. Judge William Connelly will preside over the court.

The program will begin a soft launch next month, with the first day in court slated for Jan. 16. Organizers are determining who will be the first participants, reaching out to police and corrections officials to identify veterans who might qualify.

When its up and running, the court will meet a minimum of twice a month. Judge Connelly said the goal is to not exceed 65 active participants in 2014 as organizers fine-tune the program.

The first dedicated veterans docket began in 2008 in Buffalo, with Judge Robert Russell, who noted veterans coming before his court with problems stemming from a difficult readjustment to civilian life. Since then, veterans courts have developed all over the country.

In Ohio, Toledo will join four courts: Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, Mansfield Veteran Treatment Court, Stark County Veterans Treatment Court, and Youngstown Veterans Treatment Court.

Toledos docket was more than two years in the making. Judge Connelly sought information from the V.A. Ann Arbor Healthcare System and went to Youngstown to see how the court there operated. He said he is waiting on the final go-ahead from the Ohio Supreme Court for the dedicated docket, something he said hes confident wont be a problem.

Excerpt from:
New veterans court prepares to open