Veterans Treatment Court
For more information – contact the Veterans Treatment Court Coordinator:
John Feil
If you are a veteran of the US Armed Forces and are interested
in learning more about our VOLUNTEER PEER MENTOR CORPS
Please contact the Peer Mentor Coordinator:
Troy Lutman (Marine veteran)
Veterans Treatment Court promotes public safety by holding justice-involved military veterans accountable for their behavior while providing treatment and support through a team-based approach and frequent judicial monitoring.
Every veteran participant is recognized as an individual who should be treated with respect and dignity to promote positive and productive life changes. The Court strives to identify and treat underlying substance abuse and/or mental health issues that have contributed to criminal justice involvement by coordinating and collaborating with veterans’ service delivery systems, community-based services, victim advocacy groups, and criminal justice agencies.
The GOALS of the Veterans Treatment Court are:
Increase public safety by reducing criminal recidivism
Facilitate participant sobriety and increase compliance with treatment and other court-ordered conditions
Improve access to VA benefits and services
Increase social stability in the areas of housing, education/training, and employment
Increase pro-social community connections
This video is a panel discussing Veterans Treatment Court and was arranged by the gracious folks in Lakewood.
It includes some of the people involved in the program talking about their roles and how community members support the program.
In Kind Donations:
Joann & Nesh
Neshika, a rescued greyhound, is my partner as the registered therapy dog that participates in the Jeffco Veterans Treatment Court. Her name means "Kiss" in Hebrew and she is as sweet as that sounds. We work during the weekly court appearances to provide support work for the veterans, the veteran mentors and the staff. We first say hello to the staff during their status meeting before court starts – the staff needs love and attention as well. When court is in session and the veterans come into the courtroom, Nesh "does her stuff" -- she may wander (on leash) into the benches to say hello to anyone who wants her attention; or we walk over to someone who looks like they need attention and Nesh then demands they pet her. Very often though, Nesh does her “come to me” thing – lays down in the middle of the aisle between benches and “demands” that the people come to her. The veterans have to discuss their progress and/or issues and Nesh, the main part of our therapy team, provides her warmth and love to the participants in the courtroom. Nesh is simply a calming influence on the courtroom.