Buffalo Veterans’ Treatment CourtBuffalo Veterans’ Treatment Court

Judge Robert T. RussellJudge Robert T. Russell Presiding Veterans’ Treatment Court JudgePresiding Veterans’ Treatment Court Judge

Erie County & Buffalo City CourtsErie County & Buffalo City Courts

Jack O’Connor Donna Leigh Hank Jack O’Connor Donna Leigh Hank PirowskiPirowski Coordinator, Veteran Mentors Social Work Executive Project DirectorCoordinator, Veteran Mentors Social Work Executive Project Director

Buffalo’s Experience :Veterans Tx CourtBuffalo’s 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

Veterans Treatment Court?

The “Buffalo Veteran’s Treatment Court is a collaborative effort between the W.N.Y. Veterans Project, Buffalo Police Department, The Buffalo Veteran’s Administration Health Care System, The Buffalo Criminal Courts, The Buffalo Drug and Mental Health Treatment Courts, Erie County Pre-trial Services and the C.O.U.R.T.S Program-

(Court Outreach Unit: Referral and Treatment Service).

Our MissionOur 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 GoalOur 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.

Our ObjectiveOur 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 retention.

OPERATION

Buffalo’s Veterans Treatment Court diverts eligible veteran-defendants with substance dependency and/or mental illness charged with typically felony or misdemeanor non-violent criminal offense, to a specialized criminal court docket.

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.

Unique Components• Court entirely of Veterans

• In Court: Veterans Health Care Worker(s)

• Veteran Mentors

• Therapeutic Environment

• Hybrid Drug & Mental Health Court

V.A. Health Care Worker

• DONNA LEIGH, Social Work Executive Formerly-(SATS.) Tel # 716-862-3100. Tamekia Slaughter, Social Worker

• Liaison

• Obtaining VA Releases of Information

• Facilitating VA linkages for services

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

• Case management & crisis management

FEDERAL OFFICE OF VETERANS BENEFIT AFFAIRS

• Steven Doherty and Timothy Dowell, Veteran Service Representatives

• Liaison

• Obtaining VA Releases of Information

• Facilitate processing or review of Pension Disability Benefits

• Process review of potential errors or corrections on veterans DD214

Veteran Mentors

“Leave no one behind”

Veteran Mentors Role• Coach

• Facilitator

• Advisor

• Sponsor

• Support

KEYKEY COMPONENTSCOMPONENTS

Key Components adapted from Drug Treatment and Mental Health

Treatment Courts

“To put it bluntly, we know that drug courts outperform virtually all other strategies that have

been attempted for drug-involved offenders.”

Marlowe, DeMatteo, Festinger (2003)

Lessons Learned From Drug CourtLessons Learned From Drug Court

Cost Benefit of Drug CourtCost Benefit of Drug CourtDrug Courts Drug Courts

Save Tax DollarsSave Tax Dollars

NY:$254 million saved

CA: $43 million saved

TX: $9.43 savings for every $1 spent

OR: $10 savings for every $1 spent

WA: Saved $6,779 per drug court client

National ResolutionsNational Resolutions

The National District Attorneys Association

The National Sheriffs Association

International Association of Chiefs of Police

The National Association of County Organizations

Governors Highway Safety Association

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

‘‘Services, Education, and Rehabilitation for Veterans Act’’

or the ‘‘SERV Act’’.

• S. 3379: Introduced July 31, 2008 by Senators KERRY (MA.), Ms. MURKOWSKI (AK) and Mr. DURBIN (IL.), which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

• H. R. 7149: Introduced SEPTEMBER 26, 2008 by Congresspersons KENNEDY(R.I.), Mr. HIGGINS (N.Y.), and Ms. SUTTON (OH.) which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

-Grants for Veterans Treatment Courts-

CONTACT INFORMATIONCONTACT INFORMATION

JUDGE ROBERT RUSSELL

716-845-2623

JACK O’CONNOR, Mentor Coor.

716-858-7345

DONNA LEIGH, VA SWE

716-862-3100

HANK PIROWSKI, Project Director

716-845-2695