BARBARA L. SELLERS: PILOT PROJECT OFFERS TROUBLED VETERANS FRESH START >>>

A new Veterans' Court pilot project could be a lifeline for a growing number of troubled veterans.

It was launched July 22 in Thurston County District Court, and the court will convene every Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. at 2000 Lake Ridge Dr. S.W., Building 3, in Olympia.

"Thurston County already has a Mental Health Court, but veterans often reject that option because they fear the stigma of having a mental illness or feel treatment is a sign of weakness," said Marianne Clear, Veterans Court Program manager.

The new program for veterans and active duty service members incarcerated for nonviolent crimes will provide tailored services that meet their specific needs, she said.

"If combat-related mental illness contributed to the crimes committed, the veterans could be offered a fresh start and a chance to stay out of the criminal justice system," Clear said.

Offenders are still held accountable for their crimes, but they will have the opportunity to heal themselves in the process, said Cathy Wolfe, Thurston County commissioner, in a Thurston County news release.

"You can take somebody out of a war zone, but you can't always take the war out of a soldier's mind," Wolfe said.

To get into the two-year program, the incarcerated veterans go through a careful screening process, and there must be a nexus between their illness and their charge, Clear said.

For example, the veteran's crimes could be associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, a brain injury or some other combat-related mental illness, she said.

"The goal is to provide these veterans with proper treatment and resources to prevent them from getting into more serious trouble," Clear said. "This is a cooperative effort. We work very closely with Washington State Department of Veterans' Affairs and the VA Puget Sound Health Care System."

To get in the program, individuals must receive a low to medium risk assessment diagnosis, which is based on the police report and input from treatment providers, she said.

The veteran must then agree to follow through on all court recommended treatments, which could be a combination of mental health, chemical dependency, domestic violence and/or parenting classes, Clear said.

"So far, we have two veterans who transferred from Mental Health Court, a third who went directly into the program, and we're still looking at a couple more," she said.

Travis Sayers, Incarcerated Veterans' Reintegration Program specialist, Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, assesses incarcerated veterans.

"Unfortunately, by the time I see them they are already in trouble," he said. "Many of the veterans come to the jail because of untreated drug and alcohol issues."

Sayers looks at the incarcerated veteran's time in service and type of discharge to see what VA benefits they are eligible for, and then he gets them connected to appropriate health care services.

"But they must contact us (WDVA) no later than the 61st day," he said. "By completing this program, they could get their current charges dismissed or reduced. A felony could become a misdemeanor. What's better - five years in prison or this?"