Buffalo Veterans Treatment Court

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Buffalo Veterans Treatment Court

Judge Robert Russell

Judge Robert Russell Serving Justice

Serving Justice-

-Involved Veterans Conference

Involved Veterans Conference

Austin, Texas 12

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Buffalo

Buffalo’’s Experience :Veterans Tx Courts 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

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Veterans Court

• _{A specialized criminal court docket} • _{Established to address the needs of veteran‐} defendants 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

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

Veterans Project

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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.

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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

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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.

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Veterans Era Grenada 3% Irak/Aftanistan 52% Vietnan 24% Persian Gulf 21% Type of Charges Felonies 60% Misdemeanor 40% 0 10 20 30 40

Veterans Age Breakdown

Age breakdown 32 27 34 33 20-29 30-39 40-49 50 or over

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Employment Status Employed 27% Unemploye d 73%

Primary Drug of Choice

Alcohol 40% Opiates 9% Marijuana 19% Benzoids 1% Crack/Cocaine 31%

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Percentage of Veterans with Mental Health Disorders No Mental Health Diagnosis 48% Defendants with Mental Health Diagnosis 52%

Percentage of Veterans with Mental Health Disorders Depression 32% PTSD 35% Schizophrenia 14% Bipolar Disorders 17% Personality Disorder 2%

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Unique Components

• Court entirely of Veterans

• In Court: Veterans Health Care Worker(s)

• Veteran Mentors

• Therapeutic Environment

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V.A. Health Care Worker

• Tamekia Slaughter, (SATS) Veterans

Justice Outreach, Tel # 716-862-3100

• Liaison

• Obtaining VA Releases of Information

• Facilitating VA linkages for services

• Coordinating and providing VA status report regarding Tx, toxs, appointments, etc.

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FEDERAL OFFICE OF

VETERANS BENEFIT AFFAIRS

• Carly Klein and Timothy Philo, Veteran

Service Representatives-716-857-3188 & 716-857-3315

• Liaison

• Obtaining VA Releases of Information

• Facilitate processing or review of Pension Disability Benefits

• Process review of potential errors or corrections on veterans DD214

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Challenge

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Veteran Mentors

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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 – 716/858‐7345 oconnorj@erie.gov

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Veteran Mentors Role

• Coach

• Facilitator

• Advisor

• Sponsor

• Support

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KEY

COMPONENTS

Key Components adapted from Drug Treatment and Mental Health

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‘‘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.

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Courts-CONTACT INFORMATION

CONTACT INFORMATION

JUDGE ROBERT RUSSELL 716-845-2623

JACK O’CONNOR, Mentor Coor. 716-858-7345

HANK PIROWSKI, Project Director 716-845-2695

Tamekia Slaughter, VJO 716-862-3100

Carly Klien, & Timothy Philo, VSR, 716-857-3188 & 716-857-3315

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