St. Johns County Veterans Treatment Court

Liberty Life Interview with John Leslie, VTC Mentor Coordinator of St. Johns County

In 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.

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.

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.

20 | LIBERTYLIFEMEDIA.COM | NOVEMBER 25, 2020 VOL. 1 / ISSUE 10