ST. JOHNS COUNTY VETERANS TREATMENT COURT
PEARL HARBOR
Remember & Honor
Offering Veterans a second chance
Liberty Life Interview with John Leslie, VTC Mentor Coordinator of St. Johns County
I
n an effort to gain a clearer picture of the impact Veterans Treatment Courts (VTC) have on The Liberty Coast, we needed to talk to somebody in the trenches of a VTC. Liberty Life found the ideal candidate in John Leslie, the Veterans Treatment Court mentor coordinator of St. Johns County. What follows is the highlights of our conversation. How many cases have you had [in St. Johns County]? Our first VTC session was held on February 23, 2017, and since that date, the court has accepted 70 cases. Of those 70 “participants,” 26 are currently in various stages of their treatment, while 36 have successfully completed the course and graduated. Eight others have left the program without graduating.
The December 5th Pearl Harbor Remembrance Breakfast with Our Heroes promises to be an unforgettable event to honor World War 2 Veterans. A captivating rarely heard true story of Pearl Harbor will be presented by retired Navy Captain Ryman Shoaf. World War 2 Veterans, the Ponte Vedra High School Club Sharks for Heroes and the Atlantic Coast Young Marines will be in attendance. The memorable event is hosted by the We Can Be Heroes Foundation and K9S for Warriors. Tickets to the Breakfast with Our Heroes at the Queens Harbor Yacht and Country Club in Jacksonville are available by googling “Remembering Pearl Harbor Breakfast” or calling 904 373-8817. Nonperishable food for homeless Veterans in re-employment programs will be collected at the event.
Great Food, Great Music and most importantly Great Friends!!! Military Discount of 10% OFF Everyday.
What is the success rate of graduates? How is that measured? [Success] is measured by the recidivism rate of graduates. Of our 36 graduates, we have experienced one case of recidivism, which occurred approximately one year following his graduation, [and] converts to a 2.8 percent recidivism rate. What are some misconceptions about Veterans Treatment Courts? One is that it is too costly to the taxpayers. But, the costs of incarceration are much higher than the costs to support the VTC. Another misconception is that citizens and participants might think that VTC is an easy out, easier than regular probation. In reality, VTC is more like “probation on steroids” in that the regular probation requirements form the baseline, with the treatment requirements added on top. What do people not know about VTCs that they should know? They should understand that in many cases before the justice system, treatment of underlying issues is more effective in rehabilitation when compared to incarceration. The VTC is similar in that respect to drug court and/or teen court, except VTC is for Veterans, with the assistance of the Veterans Administration. How do VTCs ensure that Veterans in trouble with the law get an opportunity to participate in the program? How many Veterans slip through the cracks in court without potentially even knowing that VTCs exist? Communication, communication, communication. It is designed to start with the processing of those arrested and brought to the sheriff’s jail where one of the first questions is “Have you served in the military?” County public defenders and other defense attorneys are made aware of the program. Are there other organizations on The Liberty Coast that the VTCs regularly work alongside? Yes, many, some of which are official members of the “court,” such as the Veterans Administration, Veteran Justice Outreach (VJO), EPIC Behavioral Healthcare, and St. Johns County Legal Aid. Some others which are adjunct to the court include the Veterans Council of St. Johns, the St. Johns County Veterans Service Office, the Wounded Warriors Project, and Gratitude America.
OPENING HOURS: Monday-Thursday 12pm-10pm, Friday and Saturday 12pm-12am, Sunday 12pm-10pm
1190 S. Edgewood Ave., Jacksonville, FL TheStoutSnug.Com | 904 240-1574 20 | LIBERTYLIFEMEDIA.COM | NOVEMBER 25, 2020 VOL. 1 / ISSUE 10
In addition to what Leslie shared above, he also pointed out that, if your county doesn’t have a VTC, another county can host non-resident participants. For more information on Veterans Treatment Courts in Florida, visit FLCourts.org/ Resources-Services/Court-Improvement/Problem-Solving-Courts/Veterans-Courts.
