Full Text
Specialty Courts Subcommittee Chairperson- Kent Crutcher Members: Kim Campbell Dr. Cara Rabe-Hemp Walt Howe Randy Macak Sharon Sweeney Rusty Thomas Cheryl Gaines Ron Lewis Michael Donovan Jayne Zeller McLean County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Veteran’s Court Overview Many of our nation’s military personnel returning from active duty develop mental health conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and depression. A large number of veterans become involved with the criminal justice system. Some estimates report that veterans account for 10 percent of criminal offenders and approximately 140,000 are incarcerated in State and Federal prisons. The first Veteran’s Court was established in Buffalo, New York in 2008 by Judge Robert Russell. The court is available to all veterans of Erie County who commit non-violent offenses. The Court attempts to provide a therapeutic environment and participation in the veteran’s court is voluntary. Participants are required to complete a 1-2 year court ordered plan to resolve the issues that may have precipitated their commission of the offense. Participants are assigned a mentor who is also a veteran and each court session has a Veteran’s Administration counselor representative present who can instantly access records and arrange the appointments the participant requires. The Veteran’s Court design has spread to Illinois where Veteran’s Courts have been established in Cook and Madison Counties. McLean County Veteran’s Court Research and Findings The subcommittee sought to determine the need for a Veteran’s Court in McLean County and examined procedures necessary to implement such a court. Research conducted by the subcommittee revealed that there are approximately 11,500 veterans in McLean County (number does not include active duty personnel). In addition, veterans enrolled at Illinois State University from Fall of 2007 to Fall 2010 averaged approximately 530 students. What is unknown is what percent of these veterans are involved with the Criminal Justice system in McLean County and/or are experiencing related mental health issues. The subcommittee discussed various points at which this information might be obtained in the future, such as jail booking, inmate services, pre-trial services, and tracking within the EJS system. The subcommittee had planned to obtain information and perhaps observe Veteran’s Courts in Illinois such as Madison County’s. However it was recently learned that it is the intention of the newly formed McLean County Recovery Court to encompass veterans who enter the criminal justice system in McLean County. According to Judge Rebecca Foley, the presiding Judge over Recovery Court, “it is our intention to serve as many vets as we can through Recovery Court.” Judge Foley further added that in an ---PAGE BREAK--- application for funding “we stressed how RC could assist vets in the court system who suffer from mental illness, including PTSD and depression.” Lastly Judge Foley suggested that the subcommittee “suspend further discussion regarding a Veterans’ Court until we obtain additional data.” Chief Judge Elizabeth Robb concurred with Judge Foley’s suggestion. At this time the Specialty Courts subcommittee is suspending further investigation into the need for a Veteran’s Court in McLean County.