Throughout 2008 and 2009, Jude Prather, Hays County veterans services officer, was serving with the U.S. military in Iraq. When he was not out on patrols he spent time writing letters to senators and representatives in Washington, D.C., and officials closer to his home in Hays County.
The letters had a similar theme: Veterans deserve a little more support when they get home from active duty. In one of the letters he suggested Hays County create a special court for veterans in trouble with the law.
The county in 2013 voted to implement the idea, and now, almost two years later, the court graduated its first “class” of five veterans.
Veterans who have gotten in trouble with the law because of issues stemming from their service in a branch of the U.S. military are diverted to a specialty court docket presided over by Judge David Glickler.
“We have teen courts, drug courts, family courts,” said Prather who is also a City Council member. “We have separate dockets already. This is a proven way to help get our veterans’ lives back on track when they’re in the criminal justice system.”
Veterans Court Coordinator Catalina Duran said the most common reason veterans enter the court is a charge of driving while intoxicated. Upon successful completion of the court program—which includes counseling, group meetings and a requirement to stay sober—the offense is expunged from the veteran’s record, Duran said.
The prospect of having a charge permanently removed from their record attracts many veterans to the court, but the court aims to address deeper issues than criminal records, Duran said.
One recent graduate told Duran that when he started the program he was only participating to have the offense expunged from his record.
After a few weeks of inpatient treatment for drug addiction, as prescribed by the court, Duran said she could see a difference in the man. He looked healthier and stronger, she said.
“He said that listening to other vets who had serious drug addictions like heroin—he would see people with track marks—and he said, ‘They would tell me, “You’re so young, so fit, and you’re still doing this. Why in the world would you waste your time with drugs?”’ Seeing it, hearing it from other veterans changed him.”
A new law that took effect Sept. 1 will expand access to the court, Duran said. Previously the court was only available to veterans with traumatic brain injuries or mental health issues resulting from combat duty. The new law expands eligibility to include traumatic brain injuries or mental health issues relating to any kind of military service, combat or otherwise.
“I’m a veteran myself so I’m going to do whatever I can to make sure my brothers and sisters are taken care of, but there are some who you’re not going to be able to help because they can’t deal with [their problems] or they won’t admit [they have a problem],” Duran said. “We can’t help somebody who doesn’t want to help himself.”
