Michigan courts work for struggling veterans

In 2003, David Bacon was firing mortars in Baghdad as part of the first wave of infantry in the firefights that took place. But that was nothing compared to the battle he would eventually face back home in West Michigan, which he fought and won with the help of veterans treatment court.

Ten years later, the former U.S. Marine had totaled his car after driving drunk — not his first DUI — and was classified as “super drunk” (blood alcohol level of 0.17 or higher). Shortly after that, Bacon entered the newly established West Michigan Regional Veterans Treatment Court in Allegan where he underwent a rigorous program to address the underlying addiction that threatened his life and landed him in court.

Unfortunately for too many military veterans returning home from active duty, Bacon’s story is not unusual.

With approximately 3 million veterans serving in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts alone, many have returned home with life-altering physical and psychological scars that affect family, friends, and even their communities.

Although our courts serve populations on opposite sides of the state, our collective mission is the same: offering veterans dealing with these scars the structure, support, and assistance they need to turn their lives around and stay out of the criminal justice system, thereby reducing the re-offense rate. Michigan vet courts have also been successful in slashing unemployment among graduates by more than half.

We are very proud that our state is a national leader with 25 veterans treatment courts that solve problems and save lives. Three short years ago, we had just eight. This is evidence of the growing demand for programs like these around the state. And thanks to funding from the governor, the state legislature, and the Supreme Court’s State Court Administrative Office, these courts can continue to make a difference.

Veterans treatment courts promote sobriety, recovery, and stability through a coordinated response that involves collaboration with a variety of traditional partners found in drug courts and mental health courts, as well as the Department of Veterans Affairs, volunteer veteran mentors, and organizations that support veterans and veterans’ families.

The connection between the courts and the VA helps provide veterans in the program with enhanced access to benefits they are entitled to as a result of their service to our country. In most of these courts, veteran mentors are also assigned to the participants to give them an opportunity to connect to someone else who can serve as a friend or buddy.

“It builds you back up—not exactly like the military, but it gives you steps to take along the way,” Bacon explained. “There is also a certain type of camaraderie in the program, and that is something you miss the most when you leave the military. In vet court, everyone’s still looking out for each other.”

Bacon has been sober for more than two years, is gainfully employed, and continues to volunteer his time in the court that saved his life.

Simply put: these courts work.

Hon. William Baillargeon is presiding judge, West Michigan Regional Veterans Treatment Court. Hon. Karen Khalil is presiding judge, Redford Veterans Court.