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Judge Robert RussellBuffalo NY City CourtandHank PirowskiCOURTS Program
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Buffalo Veterans’ Treatment CourtBuffalo Veterans’ Treatment Court
Judge Robert T. RussellJudge Robert T. Russell Presiding Veterans’ Treatment Court JudgePresiding Veterans’ Treatment Court Judge
Erie County & Buffalo City CourtsErie County & Buffalo City Courts
Jack O’Connor Donna Leigh Hank Jack O’Connor Donna Leigh Hank PirowskiPirowski Coordinator, Veteran Mentors Social Work Executive Project DirectorCoordinator, Veteran Mentors Social Work Executive Project Director
Buffalo’s Experience :Veterans Tx CourtBuffalo’s Experience :Veterans Tx Court
• Treatment Court Background-Drug & Mental Health Courts
• Veterans seen in Treatment Courts
• Facilitation by fellow Veterans
• Visit to Buffalo Veterans Hospital Advisory Board, (WNY) V.A. Director Michael Finnegan
• Community forums with Veterans Health Care, the Court and Community Behavioral Health Care Providers-Keynote Speaker Deputy Under Secretary William Feeley
Veterans Treatment Court?
The “Buffalo Veteran’s Treatment Court is a collaborative effort between the W.N.Y. Veterans Project, Buffalo Police Department, The Buffalo Veteran’s Administration Health Care System, The Buffalo Criminal Courts, The Buffalo Drug and Mental Health Treatment Courts, Erie County Pre-trial Services and the C.O.U.R.T.S Program-
(Court Outreach Unit: Referral and Treatment Service).
Our MissionOur Mission
To successfully habilitate veterans by diverting them from the traditional criminal justice system and providing them with the tools they need in order to lead a productive and law-abiding lifestyle.
Our GoalOur Goal
Our program’s goal is to reduce the veterans’ inappropriate behavior while helping them turn their lives around. We will find them, offer them assistance, assess their needs, manage their care and help them solve their problems.
Our ObjectiveOur Objective
To provide Veterans with substance abuse, alcoholism and mental health treatment coupled with academic/vocational skills improvement, while actively assisting with residential, outpatient and/or transitional services leading to job placement and job retention.
OPERATION
Buffalo’s Veterans Treatment Court diverts eligible veteran-defendants with substance dependency and/or mental illness charged with typically felony or misdemeanor non-violent criminal offense, to a specialized criminal court docket.
EARLY IDENTIFICATION
Veterans are identified through evidence based screening and assessments. They voluntarily participate in a judicially supervised treatment plan that a team of court staff, veteran health care professionals, veteran peer mentors, AOD health care professionals and mental health professionals develop with the veteran.
Unique Components• Court entirely of Veterans
• In Court: Veterans Health Care Worker(s)
• Veteran Mentors
• Therapeutic Environment
• Hybrid Drug & Mental Health Court
V.A. Health Care Worker
• DONNA LEIGH, Social Work Executive Formerly-(SATS.) Tel # 716-862-3100. Tamekia Slaughter, Social Worker
• Liaison
• Obtaining VA Releases of Information
• Facilitating VA linkages for services
• Coordinating and providing VA status report regarding Tx, toxs, appointments, etc.
• Case management & crisis management
FEDERAL OFFICE OF VETERANS BENEFIT AFFAIRS
• Steven Doherty and Timothy Dowell, Veteran Service Representatives
• Liaison
• Obtaining VA Releases of Information
• Facilitate processing or review of Pension Disability Benefits
• Process review of potential errors or corrections on veterans DD214
Veteran Mentors
“Leave no one behind”
Veteran Mentors Role• Coach
• Facilitator
• Advisor
• Sponsor
• Support
KEYKEY COMPONENTSCOMPONENTS
Key Components adapted from Drug Treatment and Mental Health
Treatment Courts
“To put it bluntly, we know that drug courts outperform virtually all other strategies that have
been attempted for drug-involved offenders.”
Marlowe, DeMatteo, Festinger (2003)
Lessons Learned From Drug CourtLessons Learned From Drug Court
Cost Benefit of Drug CourtCost Benefit of Drug CourtDrug Courts Drug Courts
Save Tax DollarsSave Tax Dollars
NY:$254 million saved
CA: $43 million saved
TX: $9.43 savings for every $1 spent
OR: $10 savings for every $1 spent
WA: Saved $6,779 per drug court client
National ResolutionsNational Resolutions
The National District Attorneys Association
The National Sheriffs Association
International Association of Chiefs of Police
The National Association of County Organizations
Governors Highway Safety Association
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
‘‘Services, Education, and Rehabilitation for Veterans Act’’
or the ‘‘SERV Act’’.
• S. 3379: Introduced July 31, 2008 by Senators KERRY (MA.), Ms. MURKOWSKI (AK) and Mr. DURBIN (IL.), which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
• H. R. 7149: Introduced SEPTEMBER 26, 2008 by Congresspersons KENNEDY(R.I.), Mr. HIGGINS (N.Y.), and Ms. SUTTON (OH.) which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
-Grants for Veterans Treatment Courts-
CONTACT INFORMATIONCONTACT INFORMATION
JUDGE ROBERT RUSSELL
716-845-2623
JACK O’CONNOR, Mentor Coor.
716-858-7345
DONNA LEIGH, VA SWE
716-862-3100
HANK PIROWSKI, Project Director
716-845-2695