New program at Gardner District Court aims to get veterans on the right track
The opening of the Central Massachusetts Veterans Treatment Court at Gardner District Court was marked with a ceremony on Sept. 20.
The court program, the seventh in the state, is a court-supervised, treatment-focused collaborative for defendants who have served in the United States Armed Services. The program will serve veterans across central Massachusetts, including Worcester County.
There were unique challenges with cases involving the veterans who came into the courtroom, according to Mark Goldstein, who became the First Justice of the Gardner District Court two years ago.
“You could see that they needed hope, they needed services, and we wanted to try and make that happen,” he said, adding that the treatment court in Gardner was established seven months ago and opened its doors in August.
Program aimed at helping court-involved veterans transition to civilian life
The program will offer a voluntary, 18- to 24-month probation term intended to serve veterans struggling with mental health and/or substance use disorders, according to officials.
Chief Probation Officer Diane Massouh said the goal of the treatment court Is to inspire court-involved veterans to take back control of their lives.
“To provide them with the tools necessary to lead productive, law-abiding lives, and also to promote stronger and safer communities,” Massouh said, adding that each participant will be provided with an individual treatment plan tailored to their needs. “The plan will evolve and change with them as they grow and progress with the program.”
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Participants matched with veteran peer advocate
The treatment court, which would promote sobriety, recovery and stability, would match each participant with a veteran peer who would act as an advocate and a mentor, she said.
“These (volunteers) are truly dedicated individuals who are there to assist and advise the court-involved veterans through their probationary period, providing a strong support for the veterans during their time in the (program),” Massouh added.
Veterans treatment courts are designed to handle criminal cases involving defendants who have a history of military service through a coordinated effort among the veterans services delivery system, community-based providers, and the court. The sessions aim to improve public safety while dealing with the underlying issues of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and military sexual trauma, according to the state website.
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“Treatment courts are a wonderful opportunity for veterans to get wraparound, supportive help that is far more conducive to their well-being and their futures than incarceration,” said Stephanie Marchetti, executive director of the Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center (MVOC). “They offer the opportunity for guided assistance in obtaining mental health treatment, housing security, financial understanding and more.”
Officials at MVOC had already had several conversations with the court and agreed to offer case management and counseling services to any veterans in the program who would benefit from it, according to Marchetti.
“We look forward to being partners with the court in any way we can,” she added.
The first Veterans Treatment Court session in the state opened at Dedham District Court in 2012. Locations of other Veterans Treatment Courts include Framingham, Holyoke and Boston.
This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Central Massachusetts Veterans Treatment Court opens in Gardner
