How a New York court gives veterans a second chance instead of prison
A specialised court in Suffolk County, New York, is helping veterans avoid prison by offering rehabilitation instead. The program, launched in 2010, focuses on former service members struggling with legal issues linked to trauma, addiction, or mental health. One of those veterans is a retired NYPD officer who faced charges for drunk driving and weapons offences before finding support through the Supreme Court of Suffolk County.
The Supreme Court of Suffolk County Veterans Treatment Court was established by Judge John Toomey, a Vietnam War veteran, in 2010. It follows the model of the first veterans court, which began in Buffalo, New York, two years earlier. The program accepts veterans charged with crimes such as drunk driving, drug offences, robbery, and illegal weapon possession.
Participants receive tailored rehabilitation, including mental health and addiction counselling through the VA. A volunteer group called the Green Jackets, made up of fellow veterans, mentors defendants throughout the process. The Supreme Court's approach has led to a 90% success rate among the hundreds of veterans who have gone through it. One veteran helped by the program is a former NYPD officer arrested in 2019 and 2022 for weapons and drunk driving offences. After retiring from the police force in 2015, his drinking worsened due to a loss of structure and purpose. Because of his military service, he qualified for the Veterans Treatment Court, which provided him with support instead of jail time.
The Supreme Court continues to offer veterans a second chance by addressing the root causes of their legal troubles. With a high success rate, it has become a model for similar programs across the country. For many, like the retired officer, it provides a path to recovery rather than punishment.
