The Veterans Court has expanded its mentorship program and updated its program phases to better support veterans facing challenges such as addiction, trauma, and reintegration after military service. The court operates as a therapeutic system, connecting veterans with community services and structured support as they progress through four new phases aimed at treatment, accountability, and personal development.
The revised program phases include Treatment Plan Development and Orientation, Stabilization and Ongoing Treatment, Prosocial Habilitation, and Achievement and Life Transition. These steps are designed to orient participants to the program, address urgent needs like housing or mental health assistance, develop prosocial skills, and help veterans transition to stable lives post-graduation.
Participants who complete the program may be eligible for reduced fines or fees and early termination of probation. The Veterans Court team includes judicial officers, attorneys from both sides, mentors who are often past graduates of the program, social workers from the Veterans Administration, community providers, and adult probation officers.
Kristian Morales, Commissioner for Veterans Court said: “This program gives everyone on the Veterans Court team – including myself – the opportunity to give back to our veterans and offer them the assistance and services they deserve for serving our country. The updated Veterans Court program phases encourage and support veteran participation to learn new skills and receive the services they need.”
Alexa Hearn, Adult Probation Officer added: “The goal is that they leave Veterans Court and are discharged from probation in a better place than when we found them. They get connected with services, and they’ve hopefully made some prosocial peers through treatment and are connected through employment and housing. There are many goals participants can achieve through the program.”
The court now encourages graduates to return as mentors. Jeremiah Winn is one such graduate who now helps others after having completed the program himself twice. He noted: “Veterans Court gave me the resources that I didn’t know were out there. Had I not been placed in this court, I don’t think I would’ve gotten the help I needed. And we now have a judicial system that is recognizing that people made mistakes, but they are here to figure out what the root cause is, why do they keep having the same person in the courtroom repeatedly.”
Winn also shares his experience with current participants: “I share my story with them, that I was right where they are not more than 18 months ago, and in doing that it establishes trust but it also gives them a glimmer of hope,” he said. “And I tell them your life is what you convince yourself it is.”
By addressing issues contributing to justice involvement among veterans—such as substance use or lack of stable housing—and providing access to targeted rehabilitation programs alongside peer mentorships from former participants like Winn—the court aims for successful outcomes as veterans reintegrate into society.
