Collaborative Justice Courts, also known as problem-solving courts, promote accountability by combining judicial supervision with rehabilitation services that are rigorously monitored and focused on recovery.
Collaborative Justice Courts are distinguished by the following elements:
- A problem-solving focus
- A team approach to decision making
- Integration of social and treatment services
- Judicial supervision of the treatment process
- Community outreach
- Direct interaction between defendants and judge
- A proactive role for the judge inside and outside the courtroom
Contra Costa County Collaborative Justice Courts
Veterans Treatment Court
A Veterans Treatment Court is a collaborative justice court intended to serve veterans who are involved with the justice system and whose court cases are affected by issues such as sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, or mental health problems relating to service in the United States military. The goal of this specialty court is to help participants avoid recidivism by addressing the root causes of their behaviors and by reintegrating them into their communities with support. These courts promote treatment, sobriety, recovery, and stability through a coordinated response involving cooperation and collaboration with the District Attorney’s Office, Criminal Defense, the Probation Department, the County Veterans Service Office, the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA), health-care networks, employment and housing agencies, community based organizations, volunteer mentors who are also veterans, and family support organizations. Services provided in the Veterans Treatment Court include one-on-one judicial supervision, group evaluation by the collaborative team, probation supervision, employment and housing assistance, treatment and medication monitoring, counseling and mentoring. A Veterans Treatment Court can help veterans involved in the criminal justice system reclaim their lives and repair the collateral damage to their families caused by their service connected sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, or mental health problems. In various jurisdictions throughout the country, Veterans Treatment Courts have been shown to:
- Reduce recidivism
- Increase participant sobriety
- Increase compliance with court-ordered treatment and other conditions
- Improve access to VA benefits and services
- Foster improved family relationships and social support connections
- Improve life stability
One unique feature of this program is that each veteran who is accepted into the program, is assigned a veteran mentor. The mentor provides outside support for a struggling Veteran and helps to make sure he or she attends the required court sessions, job interviews, probation meetings, and other requirements of the program. In addition, the veteran mentor makes himself or herself available 24 hours a day, seven days per week, as support for the veteran.
Details and documents related to veterans treatment court:
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a veteran mentor, please contact the Contra Costa County Veteran Mentor Coordinator.
Maurice Delmer
707.674.7687
Maurice.Delmer@va.gov