The Akron Municipal Court realized years ago that jail is not always the best solution to every offense – especially if the suspect is addicted to drugs or alcohol, or has a mental health condition.
That thinking led to the formation of five special courts which deal with nonviolent offenders. The specialty courts have successfully directed offenders to alternative treatments and sentencing which address their underlying problems. They are:
- Drug Court
- Family Violence Court
- Mental Health Court
- Discretionary Rehabilitation
- DUI Court
The court intends to join forces with the Summit County Veterans Service Commission to form a sixth specialty court – Veterans Court.
The court will be modeled after the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Treatment Court, an alternative sentencing program for veterans charged with nonviolent alcohol and drug-related felonies. Veterans Treatment Courts have been implemented with success in several states.
VSC Commissioners would like to repeat the VA model in Summit County. Planning talks with Akron Municipal Court Judge Jerry Larson toward that end have begun.
“We already have an excellent model in place with the Akron specialty courts,” Baker said. “Why not put our resources together and find a solution for this serious issue of veteran mental health and substance abuse?”
VSC, the court and its chief probation officer Tony Ingram are working toward establishing the Veterans Court within a year. Akron, Bath, Richfield, Fairlawn, Springfield, Lakemore and part of Mogadore would fall under the court’s jurisdiction.
Barberton Municipal Court Judge David Fish, Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Tom Teodosio and others also have expressed interest in creating a similar court in their respective jurisdictions.
“Issues specific to veterans like PTSD are not being addressed in our existing Mental Health Court,” Larson said. “It would be wonderful if Akron Municipal Court could tie in with other services for veterans.”
VSC would help the court verify veterans’ status, provide educational resources, facilitate referrals to VA mental health and substance abuse treatment services, and create awareness of the court among other Akron-area veterans groups.
Baker said these judges have the right idea by tapping existing support sources for veterans to make a Veterans Court successful. VSC and the court are on the same page when it comes to getting to the bottom of the real issues that land veterans in court.
“Many of these veterans returning from combat are suffering silently, often self-medicating with drugs and alcohol,” Baker said. “Instead of throwing them in jail, it’s important to get to the root of what’s causing their issues. Too many veterans are in prison who could have been sent on a different path.”