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HELPING VETERANS IS THE GOAL OF SUBSTANCE
ABUSE
COURT -- "I feel like it is an honor to be able
to offer
some assistance to veterans who need help
to get back on their feet."
Tulsa County Special District Judge
Sarah Smith: The program is a way to "give back to" veterans, Judge
Smith says. (Photo: Tulsa World) |
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Story here...
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/
article.aspx?articleID=20081130_14_A1_Tenwpo270716
Story below:
Your comments accepted at bottom of
page.
-------------------------
Helping veterans goal of substance abuse court
By BILL BRAUN World Staff Writer
The new program will focus on people accused of nonviolent felony
offenses.
A new therapeutic court program being developed in Tulsa to address the
needs of military veterans is an opportunity to "give back to the people
who have stood for us," Tulsa County Special District Judge Sarah Smith
said.
"I feel like it is an honor to be able to offer some assistance to
veterans who need help to get back on their feet," she said.
Under the umbrella of the well-established Tulsa County Drug Court, a
Veterans Treatment Court will focus on people with military backgrounds
and alcohol or drug addiction.
The court will deal with people who are accused of nonviolent felony
offenses and who have substance-abuse issues. A defendant's underlying
charge doesn't have to be a drug or alcohol charge but could include such
charges as larceny of merchandise from a retailer, concealing stolen
property and burglary.
 Some
aspects of the court are similar to the established drug and DUI courts
here, which are designed as alternatives to incarceration.
Drug Court participants undergo a treatment regimen that includes
counseling sessions, drug testing, probation supervision and regular
status hearings
in court.
The new court will convene once a week at the county courthouse, with
Smith as the judge. The start-up session is scheduled for Dec. 8.
Some veterans in early stages of a standard Drug Court treatment program
are being moved to the new docket.
The docket won't start out large, but Smith indicated that she wants to
build it up rather quickly to include treatment for 50 people.
As in Drug Court, the District Attorney's Office will have a gate-keeping
role over who is eligible to participate.
The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
oversees state funding of drug courts.
A specialized focus on treating veterans opens the door to additional
resources, available through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and
other agencies, that would not be available for a program dealing with
nonveterans.
The Veterans Treatment Court plans to make use of volunteer "mentors" for
program participants.
In the mentoring, "we want to match people with similar service histories
and experiences" who are better suited to understand issues being faced,
Smith said.
Matt Stiner, who works on veterans affairs as an assistant to Tulsa Mayor
Kathy Taylor, said military backgrounds of people treated in this program
will ensure a strong support network.
"If you go to any veterans hospital, the camaraderie is there," according
to Stiner, a former Marine.
The military "is a macho environment" where people aren't inclined to say
that they need help, he indicated.
It makes no sense to send veterans to jail or prison "because they were
struggling because of their combat experience" and they used "alcohol or
drugs to cope with whatever problems they have," Stiner said.
Buffalo, N.Y., started holding sessions in early 2008 in what is
recognized as the nation's first Veterans Treatment Court.
-------------------------
posted by Larry Scott
Founder and Editor
VA Watchdog dot Org
-------------------------
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