Bay Area Spotlight: San Mateo County's Veterans Treatment Court

Special court helps veterans with addictions
By Callie Shanafelt
California Health Report 

San Mateo County Superior Court Judge John Grandsaert started Northern California’s 

newest veteran’s treatment court last July. (Photo: Callie Shanafelt/California Health Report)

San Mateo County’s Veteran’s Treatment Court looks like a typical criminal courtroom on a recent morning. Three men in orange jumpsuits sit in a holding area in the front near two bailiffs as the session begins. A row of lawyers and court staff, all wearing business suits, has case files at the ready. At the back of the room, social workers and defendants sit in army green and gray theater-style seats.

But what happens at Veteran’s Treatment Court is anything but typical. Modeled on drug treatment courts, this court provides extra support and treatment opportunities for military veterans.

San Mateo Judge John Grandsaert started Northern California’s newest veteran’s treatment court last July.

First, he had to convince the county that the court would not mean an additional hit to the county budget. In the past five years, California trial courts have lost nearly one billion dollars to budget cuts – an unprecedented amount. San Mateo Court has cut its total staff by 30 percent, even as caseloads increased after reforms to the state prison system.

“It’s not a good environment for starting new courts in light of the terrible budget squeeze that we’re under,” Grandsaert said.

But he was able to create the Veteran’s Treatment Court by limiting admission to the program and tapping into the resources of veteran support networks.

Judge Grandsaert sits behind a raised corner desk framed by the U.S. and California flags when court is in session. The state seal hangs above his head. He speaks in a soothing and encouraging tone to each veteran that comes before him—reminiscent of how a supportive father would speak to his son.

In fact, Grandsaert has a particular passion for veterans because his own son is in the Air Force and he spent 17 years in the Army reserve. He thinks vets deserve special treatment in the criminal justice system.

“Veterans have already sacrificed part of their life in service to their country,” Grandsaert said.

There are more than 23 million vets in the United States, according to the Veteran’s Administration. The VA also estimates that one third of the homeless population has served in the military. Vets aren’t more likely to be arrested, but those who are in the criminal justice system are more likely to have problems with addiction.

Vets in the San Mateo Court have already been convicted of a crime. They usually end up on Grandsaert’s radar because of a probation violation or referral. Defendants agree to be closely monitored during probation. In exchange, they get extra support and opportunities through the court.

If they successfully complete the program, Grandsaert expunges their record and forgives their fines.

He estimates it will take vets 18 months to three years to go through the program. If they don’t progress with their treatment, they can be removed.

Click here to read the full article.

NADCP News: "Administration Redoubles Its Efforts to Expand Drug Courts"

"Drug court is what real drug policy reform looks like." 

-- ONDCP Director Gil Kerlikowske

Administration Redoubles Its Efforts to Expand Drug Courts
and Other Evidence-based Sentencing Options

ONDCP Director Kerlikowske Announces Award During National Press Club Speech

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director, Gil Kerlikowske announced today that NADCP will receive a $1.4 million grant to expand the reach of Drug Courts and the groundbreaking justice reform model, the Annuals of Research and Knowledge on Successful Offender Management (ARK). Based on the Risk and Need Responsively theory, the ARK was designed as a reform framework to assess offenders and sort them into a systemic continuum of evidence-based sentencing options. Today’s announcement represents a groundbreaking step towards significant justice reform across all points of the adult justice system.

The National Press Club speech was attended by justice leaders and policy experts from across the criminal justice spectrum. Representing NADCP was an incredible group of treatment court pioneers covering over twenty years of alternative sentencing innovation and leadership. Joining NADCP CEO West Huddleston were Board Chair Judge Robert Rancourt, Board Member Judge Pamela Gray, and former Board Chairs Judge Lou Presenza, Judge John Schwartz, and Judge Chuck Simmons.

“Drug Court is what real drug policy reform looks like,” said ONDCP Director Gil Kerlikowske. “By giving non-violent drug offenders a chance to reclaim their lives through treatment, we can finally begin to break the cycle of drug use, crime, and incarceration in America. Every dollar we spend on supporting this type of drug policy reform pays dividends in safer and healthier communities later on.”

“Today, our vision of a solution-oriented justice system is significantly closer to becoming reality,” said NADCP CEO West Huddleston. “This funding will allow NADCP and its partners to put the ARK into practice. We remain grateful that through this funding, Congress and the Administration continues its commitment to expand the reach of Drug Courts and ensure that they remain a cornerstone of much needed criminal justice reform.”

“We look forward to taking the ARK to scale,” said NADCP Board Chair Judge Judge Robert Rancourt. “In doing so, NADCP commits to collaborating with leaders from the law enforcement, corrections, probation, prosecution, defense, substance abuse and mental health communities. Working together, we will build a comprehensive system that will forever change the delivery of effective justice in this country.”

To learn more about the ARK, watch NADCP Chief of Science, Law and Policy and ARK co-creator Dr. Doug Marlowe present during the NADCP 18th Annual Training Conference.

ONDCP Director Gil Kerlikowske praises Drug Courts during his remarks, NADCP Board Chair Judge Robert Rancourt flanked by former Board Chairs Judge Chuck Simmons (l) and Judge John Schwartz (r), former NADCP Board Chair Judge Lou Presenza and  Board Member Judge Pamela Gray talks with Director Kerlikowske

NADCP News: "Drug Courts Key To National Drug Control Strategy"

Drug Courts Key To National Drug Control Strategy

The [Obama] Administration has released its 2013 National Drug Control Strategy and once again Drug Courts are cited as a cornerstone of evidence-based reform. White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director Gil Kerlikowske officially released the strategy today during a speech in Baltimore, Maryland. Director Kerlikowske discussed the importance of promoting policy that is rooted in science, particularly as the national debate about drug policy continues to be split between extremes: law enforcement centric or legalization. “The truth is, neither of these extreme approaches is guided by what experience, compassion, or—most important—science demonstrate about the true nature of substance use disorders in America,” he said. 

The 2013 National Drug Control Strategy emphasizes prevention, early intervention, and a ‘smart on crime’ approach that promotes diversion and treatment for addicted offenders. Drug Courts remain central to this approach and were specifically highlighted as key to breaking the cycle of drug use, crime, arrest, and incarceration by diverting non-violent offenders into treatment instead of prison. The strategy also underscores the important role of Veterans Treatment Courts in connecting veterans to the benefits and treatment they have earned. Other highlights include expanding access to treatment, including implementation of the Affordable Care Act, improving access to reentry services for those incarcerated and expanding care for veterans, college and university students, and Native Americans. 

ONDCP has developed a new webpage detailing key aspects of the Administration’s drug control strategy. To anyone familiar with Drug Court, the cover photo will look very familiar. Click here to visit the page and learn more.

In the News: "New San Francisco court program helps military veterans"

On April 4, 2013, the Bay Area's KGO-ABC7 News reported on the opening of the San Francisco Veterans Justice Court with Judge Braden Woods presiding.

VIDEO AVAILABLE HERE.

New San Francisco court program helps military veterans

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- There's a new court program in San Francisco that helps military veterans who get into trouble with the law. It's called the "Veterans Justice Court." It's a program that's had tremendous success in other cities that have adopted it.

Judge Braden Woods will run the pilot court program. The crimes range from misdemeanors to non-violent felonies. The defendants have one thing in common -- they're all veterans.

Presiding Judge Cynthia Lee was the driving force behind veterans court, "It's an opportunity to give them and to give the court a different way to reintegrate them into the community," she said.

It's a collaborative effort between the court and the Veterans Administration. Elizabeth Brett will be the VA's liaison.

"The focus in a court like this is on treatment and connecting veterans to treatment," Brett said.
And that's the key. It works like a medical triage. Not only are there VA counselors, there are prosecutors, public defenders, and probation officers all trying to create a supportive environment, not the contentious one which often exists in regular courts.

Defendants like Richard Davis are applauded when they do well with their treatment program. Davis is an Army infantry veteran who was arrested on drug charges. He believes this court will help others like him go straight.

"They just have demons that they have to work through themselves and this court gives you that opportunity," Davis said.

Make no mistake, Judge Woods will be tough when defendants stray. But there's a lot of encouragement, too. And a lot of straight talk.

Deputy public defender Brian Pearlman says that this collaborative approach seems to work well with veterans.

"I think with veterans, they have a multitude of issues dealing with a lot of post-traumatic stress, dealing with drug issues," Pearlman said.

The addition of a veterans court comes at a time when the courts in general are struggling financially. Their budgets have been slashed.

But Judge Lee says she's been able to find the resources necessary to make this program work because it's a priority.

(Copyright ©2013 KGO-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)