Attorneys hear about outreach program

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Members of the Van Wert County Bar Association and their guests had the chance to hear a presenation on a program targeted at military veterans who run afoul of the judicial system.

Teresa Sichman of the Dayton Veterans Administration, provided information last week on the Veterans Justice Outreach Program during a luncheon meeting held at The Hotel Marsh.

The program partners with law enforcement agencies and the courts to find supervised treatment options as an alternative to jail time.

The process begins with identification of veterans in the legal system, including referrals from the community, justice system, VA staff and veterans themselves. The VA then works with the court system to encourage supervised treatment programs, instead of incarceration.

Sichman stressed that the VA does not provide legal services for veterans, while issue related to whether a veteran is competent to stand trial are also not addressed in this program.

VA staff members will work with veterans to determine whether they are eligible for care and, if eligible, veterans will receive an assessment that may include:

• Medical care needs
• Mental health care needs
• Housing needs
• Substance abuse treatment needs

Treatment can be offered if the court decides to impose supervised treatment instead of jail time. If so, the VA will determine what, if any, services can be offered through the Dayton VA Medical Center.

Sichman also talked about the Health Care for Re-Entry Veterans program, which identifies eligible veterans leaving jail or prison and evaluates them their housing, employment, food, clothing and medical care needs.

The VA provides ongoing case management, healthcare and other services, and advocacy for veterans.

Van Wert County Common Pleas Judge Charles D. Steele, Probate-Juvenile Judge Kevin Taylor and Van Wert Municipal Court Judge Jill Leatherman all attended the luncheon, as did members of their probation department staffs.