Ohio Supreme Court certifies local veterans’ court

The growing Montgomery County Common Pleas Court’s Veterans Treatment Docket was recently certified by the Ohio Supreme Court.

To get certified by the Ohio Supreme Court’s Commission on Specialized Dockets, the court overseen by Judge Dennis Adkins, underwent a site visit and provided specific program materials for standards that went in to effect in January 2014.

“Getting certification is just a recognition of all the hard work that everyone has put into this program …” Adkins said. “The staff here at the common pleas court, the people at the Veterans Administration as well our mentors and our volunteers in the program; so all of that combined is just a great thing for them and great for everyone here and we appreciate the certification.”

The veterans court seeks to provide a comprehensive set of resources to qualified veterans who are in the criminal justice system.

“Specialized dockets have proven effective at addressing persistent criminal behaviors,” Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor said in a press release. “Specialized dockets result in significantly lower recidivism rates which means offenders become productive members of society, for which we all benefit.”

The veteran’s treatment court which began in late 2013 has expanded from eight vets to more than 60. Adkins said two vets have graduated and two more are close to completing the program. “We hope that after a little time expires, that we can have them back and be mentors to other ones in the program,” Adkins said.

Specialized court dockets in Ohio deal with issues such as drugs and alcohol, mental health, child support, domestic violence and sex offenses.

Ohio has an estimated 900,000 military veterans, the fifth-most of any state in the nation. Adkins estimated when the court started that more than 70 vets already were in the Montgomery County probation system.

“We’re always looking at innovative ways to combat crime in our area and also to help and assist people with their troubles,” Adkins said. “In my particular court, it’s the veterans who have served our country and they got themselves involved in the criminal justice system because of various problems, be it post-traumatic stress disorder, be it substance abuse, alcoholism, domestic violence. We try to treat their problems but also recognize the service that they provided to their country.”

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