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Medina veterans treatment court earns final certification
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: April 8, 2022
The veterans treatment court at Medina Municipal Court has earned final certification as a specialized docket from the Ohio Supreme Court’s Commission on Specialized Dockets.
The three-year certification period began on Dec. 16, 2021 and ends on Dec. 31, 2024.
It follows a site visit by commission personnel that determined the program was adhering to the Supreme Court’s certification standards that took effect in January 2014.
In a press release, Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor stated, “Specialized dockets divert offenders toward criminal justice initiatives that employ tools and tailored services to treat and rehabilitate the offender so they can become productive members of society.
“Studies have shown this approach works by reducing recidivism while saving tax dollars.”
The veterans treatment court is Medina County’s first specialized docket devoted to veterans.
“I was very excited when I received the news,” said Medina Municipal Court Judge Gary F. Werner, the administrative judge who oversees the veterans treatment court. “This certification means we can proceed with our existing operating procedures.
“Our veterans court certification follows a tremendous effort by our court personnel and by an expanding group of enthusiastic and engaged community stakeholders and professionals,” said Judge Werner. “We are all very anxious to increase access to this program’s broad range of services for those local veterans who end up in our court system.”
Also known as the Valor Court, the program earned preliminary certification as a specialized docket on Aug. 12, 2021, with Judge Werner holding the first session in late September after employees underwent about six months of training.
Chief Probation Officer Matt Esterle, who started at the court in September 2019, worked closely with the judge to begin the program.
“I ran a veterans treatment court for Akron Municipal Court Judge Jerry Larson for a number of years and one of the reasons I was brought on staff here was to help the judge start a valor court,” said Esterle.
The four-phase program lasts a minimum of 12 months, depending upon the progress of the individual participant.
The screening process begins during the arraignment hearing, with the magistrate asking whether the defendant has served in the U.S. military. If the answer is yes, the individual is given information about the treatment court program.
In addition to military service, a defendant must also be diagnosed with a moderate to severe substance use disorder and/or a mental illness such as PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder).
“The three most common offenses these military defendants commit are assault, domestic violence or multiple OVIs,” said Esterle.
During phase one of the program, the participant meets with the ten-member treatment team, which includes the judge, Esterle, the prosecutor, two defense attorneys, two law enforcement liaisons, a designated probation officer, a veterans justice outreach coordinator from the VA and one or more community-based treatment providers to develop an individual plan of action.
Participants are also paired with a volunteer mentor peer, i.e., an honorably discharged veteran who provides support and guidance to the individual throughout the program.
The various components of the plan are implemented during phase two. During this phase, the participant is closely monitored for compliance and is required to meet with Judge Werner on a bi-weekly basis.
Phases three and four focus on community reintegration. The participant is required to adhere to treatment regimens and obtain employment and housing.
Upon successful completion of the program and graduation, the case is closed.
As of the publication of this article, there were four people in the program, which can accommodate up to 15 participants at a time.
Now that the treatment court has earned final certification, Judge Werner is hoping to secure additional funding to expand its services further.
The court has already received two $75,000 grants from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services covering the periods July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022 and July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023.
“We are currently working with the Medina County Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Board to allocate the money in ways that will provide the greatest assistance to the participants,” said Judge Werner.
“It has been deeply satisfying to see the program participants to date all performing well and regaining control over their lives,” Judge Werner said.