![]() “The three most common offenses these military defendants commit are assault, domestic violence or multiple OVIs,” said Esterle. In addition to military service, a defendant must also be diagnosed with a moderate to severe substance use disorder and/or a mental illness such as PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). If the answer is yes, the individual is given information about the treatment court program. The screening process begins during the arraignment hearing, with the magistrate asking whether the defendant has served in the U.S. The four-phase program lasts a minimum of 12 months, depending upon the progress of the individual participant. “I ran a veterans treatment court for Akron Municipal Court Judge Jerry Larson for a number of years and one of the reasons I was brought on staff here was to help the judge start a valor court,” said Esterle. ![]() Chief Probation Officer Matt Esterle, who started at the court in September 2019, worked closely with the judge to begin the program. 12, 2021, with Judge Werner holding the first session in late September after employees underwent about six months of training. “We are all very anxious to increase access to this program’s broad range of services for those local veterans who end up in our court system.” Also known as the Valor Court, the program earned preliminary certification as a specialized docket on Aug. “Our veterans court certification follows a tremendous effort by our court personnel and by an expanding group of enthusiastic and engaged community stakeholders and professionals,” said Judge Werner. “This certification means we can proceed with our existing operating procedures. Werner, the administrative judge who oversees the veterans treatment court. “I was very excited when I received the news,” said Medina Municipal Court Judge Gary F. ![]() “Studies have shown this approach works by reducing recidivism while saving tax dollars.” The veterans treatment court is Medina County’s first specialized docket devoted to veterans. In a press release, Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor stated, “Specialized dockets divert offenders toward criminal justice initiatives that employ tools and tailored services to treat and rehabilitate the offender so they can become productive members of society. It follows a site visit by commission personnel that determined the program was adhering to the Supreme Court’s certification standards that took effect in January 2014. The three-year certification period began on Dec. The veterans treatment court at Medina Municipal Court has earned final certification as a specialized docket from the Ohio Supreme Court’s Commission on Specialized Dockets. Medina veterans treatment court earns final certification ![]()
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