Lancaster Co. Veterans Treatment Court about to kick off – Lincoln Journal Star

Military flags already have gone up behind the bench in Lancaster County District Judge John Colborn's courtroom, a visual hint that the state's newest Veterans Treatment Court soon will be up and running there.

Lincoln's is the second of its kind in the state meant to keep veterans or active duty military members facing felony criminal charges out of a possible prison cell and to get them the support and services they need to stay out of trouble.

Douglas County's kicked off in November.

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But those involved want to see it grow across the state.

"Probation's goal is to keep expanding and helping veterans throughout the whole state," said Jeff Curry, chief of Lancaster County adult probation. "So we're the second, but we're not going to be the last by any means, and it's going to keep growing."

Later this spring, they'll start meeting to work on creating a mental health court, the next big goal in the works.

But first, veterans court.

Tony Conell, the coordinator in Lincoln, said soon they'll start screening potential candidates and go to the Veterans Court Committee with names to determine if they're eligible.

They have to have served in combat, have a mental health diagnosis -- like post-traumatic stress disorder or a traumatic brain injury -- and be eligible for Veterans Administration benefits. And not have a long prior criminal history before their service, Conell said.

"What we're seeing is they're going overseas to serve our country, volunteering to do that, and then they're coming back and they're on the court docket," he said.

Participants have to be recommended, but also have to volunteer to be part of the problem-solving court and could be in it for up to two years.

Curry said they're basing a lot of the program on what works about the county's established drug court.

There's drug testing, treatment with Veterans Affairs, group therapy.

Curry said there's a lot of support and resources for them, and everyone involved just wants to help get injured military vets back on track.

The treatment team includes two judges, Colborn and his backup; Lancaster County Attorney Joe Kelly; Lancaster County Public Defender Joe Nigro; Sandra Miller of Veterans Justice Outreach; Lincoln Police Officer Robert Hurley; and Jeff Hamilton, the Veterans Court supervising probation officer.

Curry said they'll all work together to get participants what they need.

"It's been really a big community partnership," he said.

At an opening ceremony Wednesday at the City-County Building, they'll swear in three mentors, themselves veterans of the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marines, who will be paired up with participants.

With shared language and experiences, they'll be a huge help, Conell said, adding that they're always looking for more mentor volunteers.

Lancaster County's Veterans Treatment Court will start small, with up to eight people. But they're hoping to expand in time.

"And just keep building," he said. "Whatever the needs are."

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Lancaster Co. Veterans Treatment Court about to kick off - Lincoln Journal Star