Lee County Veterans Court honors Veterans

In honor of Veterans Day, Lee County Judge Josephine Gagliardi held a special Veterans Treatment Court session honoring veterans on Tuesday, November 9th. Speakers offered messages of hope and support to those facing challenges here at home.

Guest speakers included Lee County Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass, U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Douglas N. Frazier, Attorney Michael Corso, Lee County Operations Division Manager Brooke Dean, Isaac Peck who was a Specialist with the US Army National Guard, and 20th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Margaret Steinbeck who was a Lieutenant Coronel in the U.S. Army.

“Veterans Court is hard, but the end result is worth it,” said Judge Steinbeck. “It means a lot to me as a Judge and it means a lot to our community. I thank the support of the County Commissioners and for all who work in this court. I especially thank our Veterans who are part of this court. Thank you for what you are doing for us.”

Since 2014, the Lee County Veterans Treatment Court has admitted 114 veterans with misdemeanor and/or felony charges and has had a 79% successful completion rate. The program’s stringent requirements and focus on individualized treatment are designed to address the unique reasons behind each participant’s criminal justice involvement. When these goals are met, participants leave the program with the resources necessary to live stable, sober, and law-abiding lives.

In a study of discharges between 2017-2020, roughly 84% of all successful graduates avoided new arrests in Lee County after they left the program. Over the 2020-2021 fiscal year, 21 new veterans were admitted, contributing to an average monthly census of 20 veterans, and 12 successfully completed the program for an overall successful completion rate of 92%.

“While these statistics are merely a snapshot of the issues veterans face, they are important to recognize in our pursuit of justice. With an estimated 8% veteran population in Lee County, we are certainly not insulated from seeing our community’s veterans enter the justice system,” said Lee County Treatment Courts Manager Joesph Rea. “In response, our Lee County Veterans Treatment Court team works tirelessly to combat these troublesome outcomes with evidence-based treatment modalities and compassionate jurisprudence.”

Veterans Court is designed to divert cases from the traditional court system for individuals who have served in the US military, are a current or former US Department of Defense Contractor, or are a current or former military member of a foreign allied country and are diagnosed with severe mental health and/or substance use disorders. Veterans Courts promote public safety while supporting service members and their families through a coordinated effort among veteran services, community services and the court.

Objectives include assisting qualified participants through the criminal justice process, improving access to veteran-specific treatment resources, developing and completing an individualized treatment plan, improving community functioning of participants in the areas of employment, education, training and housing, and improving public safety by reducing the chances of recidivism.

More information about Veterans Treatment Court can be found on our website on the Veterans Court page. The program is available in Lee and Collier counties.