Nation’s First Veteran’s Treatment Court Starts in Buffalo
Buffalo, NY, judge Robert Russell has long presided over the city’s mental health and substance abuse courts. This January, working with the VA Health Care Network, the Western New York Veterans Project, and other partners in the community, Judge Russell started the nation’s first veteran’s treatment court. The court serves veterans with mental health and substance abuse issues who are facing misdemeanor and non-violent felony charges. The court helps veterans with housing, employment and counseling needs, as well as addressing their legal situation. According to Mental Health Weekly, Judge Russell was motivated by the increasing number of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who appeared in his court. To learn more, read the USA Today article.
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