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Hamilton County Veterans Treatment Court marks first year, prepares December graduation
Summary
Hamilton County’s Veterans Treatment Court reported its first-year operations to commissioners, citing 45 referrals, 9 program pleas, and 7 active participants; a graduation is set for Dec. 4. Case manager Lauren Messer described plans to improve early identification of justice-involved veterans and expand peer supports and grant-seeking.
Hamilton County commissioners heard a progress report from the Veterans Treatment Court on Nov. 12 as staff and volunteer partners thanked the board for funding a case manager position that launched the court’s work.
"We began accepting applications as of December 4," said Lauren Messer, the court’s case manager. Messer told the commission the court received 45 referrals over the past year, which resulted in nine pleas into the program and leaves seven active participants in treatment and supervision. Judge Gary Starnes said the program will mark its one-year anniversary on Dec. 4 and will hold its first graduation that day.
Messer said the court has adopted veteran-specific assessments from American University’s Veterans Treatment Court Risk and Need Enhancement Initiative and revised its policy manual and participant handbook to align with national best practices. She described an intake pathway that includes verification of discharge status by a veteran service officer (VSO), screening by the district attorney’s office for eligibility based on charges and criminal history, and clinical assessments to set appropriate levels of intervention.
The presenters identified an operational gap in early identification of justice-involved veterans. "Our current way of doing this is when they self-identify as a veteran when they are booked in at the jail," Messer said. She recommended using the VA’s Veteran Reentry Search Service (VRSS), a web-based system to help verify veteran status earlier in custody, and said VRSS adheres to federal data-protection standards.
Judge Starnes and other court representatives emphasized the role of community volunteers in accountability courts. Commissioners rose to acknowledge volunteers and the judges presented commemorative challenge coins to the commission.
The commission did not take formal action on the court report; presenters said they will continue to advise the board as the program grows and as additional participants approach graduation.
