Drug Court plans program geared toward particular issues of veterans
SUN HERALD
Circuit Judge Robert Krebs is expanding the 19th Circuit Drug Court to include a Veterans Court program to address the needs of military veterans in Jackson, George and Greene counties.
Judge Krebs said he has seen the special needs of veterans who have come through his court, and he anticipates the numbers will increase as more men and women return from military duty.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast has a heavy military presence.
Judge Krebs said in his nine years on the bench, “I’ve had a number of veterans come through, from various wars, with all sorts of problems, many of which are drug related.”
The program will help connect veterans with needed resources, including treatment provided through Veterans Affairs. “Maybe we can put it all together and get these folks pointed in the right direction,” Krebs said.
The Veterans Court will pair veterans with other veterans as mentors. Several police officers who are also military veterans have volunteered as mentors.
The treatment-oriented program will operate within the Drug Court. The Drug Court will intensely supervise the veterans as it does all participants.
However, veterans will meet as a separate group with Krebs and Drug Court staff because their experiences are different from those of other Drug Court participants.
“They have PTSD. They’ve seen death, dying, dismembered body parts, blood. It’s a totally different experience than the street,” Krebs said.
The 19th Circuit is the third state trial court to develop a program for veterans.
Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2012/01/26/3714065/drug-court-plans-program-geared.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy
