MAYS
LANDING – Attorney General Paula T.
Dow today joined with federal, state and county
officials on the eve of the Veterans Day holiday
to launch a pilot program in Atlantic County
aimed at identifying and providing community-based
services to veterans and active duty military
personnel who become involved in the criminal
justice system.
Attorney
General Dow announced that the two-year
Veterans Pilot Initiative will provide community-based
programs such as mental health and substance
abuse treatment, anger management and family
counseling to eligible veterans and active
duty military personnel who become involved
in the criminal justice system where the
commission of the crime appears related
to a substance abuse or mental health issue.
The
program will offer eligible criminal defendants
who are veterans and/or active duty military
personnel with a substance abuse problem
or mental health illness the opportunity
to receive counseling or treatment under
strict guidelines and in lieu of incarceration.
Prosecutors will work closely with licensed
treatment professionals in identifying viable
participants and with both public and private
defense counsel on plea agreements that
ensure compliance with a treatment regimen.
“The
collaboration among the agencies involved
in this initiative reflects growing awareness
of the strains our men and women in uniform
experience when they return home from war,”
Attorney General Dow said. “Unfortunately,
this can result in drug or mental health
issues that result in criminal activity.
For those who serve in our armed forces,
where we can, and where it is appropriate,
the justice system should marshal its resources
to help get them back on the right path.”
“I
am proud that this initiative will be led
by the men and women in Atlantic County
for the next two years,” stated Atlantic
County Prosecutor, Theodore F.L. Housel.
“This office has always understood
the issues facing veterans. Those of us
who were Assistant Prosecutors in the late
1970’s and 1980’s vividly remember
the Vietnam veterans who became involved
with the criminal justice system because
of experiences that occurred overseas. Like
those individuals, the men and women who
have served our country in Iraq and Afghanistan
deserve our understanding and
help. Combat-related trauma can have devastating
effects on the physical and mental well-being
of our soldiers for years following deployment;
this program is designed to ameliorate some
of those effects.”
Raymond
L. Zwacki, the Deputy Commissioner for Veteran
Affairs at the state Department of Military
and Veteran Affairs, applauded the efforts
in Atlantic County.
“Every
Veteran is special. They are men and women
who answered the call to defend this great
nation,” Zwacki said. “Veterans
who become involved in the criminal justice
system deserve treatment that recognizes
their sacrifices and also takes into account
how stresses they endured during their time
in uniform may have later led to their making
unfortunate choices.”
As
part of the program, if a person who is
charged with committing a crime in Atlantic
County is a veteran, a member of the reserve
or active duty military personnel, he or
she will be screened and evaluated by a
licensed clinician from Jewish Family Services,
a contracted service provider in Atlantic
County.
The
evaluation will be given to the prosecutor
and defense counsel with a recommendation
as to whether the person should be considered
for services through the program. Plea agreements
or diversion options will be made at the
discretion of the prosecutor’s office;
however, treatment conditions will be placed
on any defendant in the program tailored
to his or her needs and based on the recommendation
of the service provider. Program participants
will receive case management from JFS and,
where requested, reports will be provided
to the court on the status of the individual’s
progress.
Attorney
General Dow made the announcement at a press
conference at the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s
Office. She was joined by representatives
from United States Department of Veterans
Affairs, the New Jersey Department of Law
and Public Safety, the New Jersey Department
of Human Services, the New Jersey Department
of Military and Veterans Affairs, the Atlantic
County Prosecutor’s Office, the Office
of the Public Defender, and the Atlantic
County Bar Association, all of whom are
participating in the program.
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