EASTON, Pa. — Military veterans charged with crimes in Northampton County will soon have a new court available whose goal is to keep them out of jail.
- A new problem-solving court in Northampton County is aimed at keeping military veterans charged with most non-violent crimes out of jail
- Like the two other problem-solving courts in the county, participants work through an 18-24 month program aimed at helping address the underlying causes of criminality
- Applications for Veterans Court will open to veterans charged with qualifying crimes in the fall.
“I don’t ever want to put another veteran in prison,” Administrative Judge of Problem Solving Courts Jennifer Sletvold told county council's Courts and Corrections Committee last week. “In my 10 years on the bench, a lot of veterans have appeared in front of me in various states of peril. So this was something I absolutely wanted to address.”
“Community-based, highly supervised programs like this give people the opportunity to address their problems in a real world setting, versus trying to obtain treatment in the prison system,” said Stephanie Steward, coordinator of the problem solving courts.
The Veterans’ Court joins the county’s two other problem-solving courts, mental health court and recovery court, and creates a similar 18- to 24-month program of support, supervision and structure intended to address underlying causes of crime.
If a participant successfully completes the program, charges against them are dropped.
“We ask so much of (service members) and from them, and they give so much, and there are repercussions to what we ask of them,” said Sletvold.
She said that over her time as a judge, she’s seen veterans come before her because of alcoholism, drug abuse, domestic violence and more that can often be traced to the impacts that can accompany military service.
“We ask so much of (service members) and from them, and they give so much, and there are repercussions to what we ask of them."Northampton County Judge Jennifer Sletvold
“I think the trauma manifests itself in those types of behaviors. And those are the kinds of things that we can help with,” she said.
One-on-one
Each participant has their own set of goals for the program, depending on their needs; the court offers services to help them meet them. They may offer addiction counseling, for example, or treatment help for PTSD.
“As people progress through the program, we're looking for them to have achieved stability; we're looking for them to have completed treatment or are continuing to engage in treatment as may be necessary, and beginning to move on to other aspects of their lives,” Steward said.
A “critical” part of the program, according to Sletvold, is the inclusion of volunteer mentors, themselves military veterans, who work with participants one-on-one. People enrolled in the program also work with a specialized parole officer, herself a veteran, familiar with their particular needs.
The court, like similar diversion programs elsewhere in Pennsylvania, is run in partnership with the Veterans’ Affairs Administration’s Veteran Justice Outreach program, along with other local nonprofit organizations aimed at helping former service members.
“We want to divert (veterans) and prevent incarceration, if possible, by giving them assistance and treatment and attention and the ability to function well in the community,” Sletvold said.
Veterans' Court eligibility
Eligible participants are at least 18 years old, served in any branch of the U.S. armed forces, reside in Northampton County and face criminal charges in the county. They must voluntarily seek to join the program, and remain willing to engage with treatment and supervision.
Northampton County residents charged with crimes outside of the county may also apply to have their supervision transferred to the new Veterans’ Court.
As with other problem-solving courts, defendants with charges of serious crimes like murder, manslaughter or felony sex offenses on their criminal record may not participate.
Several members of county council voiced broad support for the new court.
“I'm excited to hear that you're going a step further with this veterans' court as a veteran who's seen some guys fall through the cracks on some silly stuff,” said Commissioner Kerry Myers, who is a Navy veteran. “It’s a huge brass ring you can hold on to.”
