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Initiative to connect veterans to resources, reduce recidivism

Crenshaw County District Judge Jon Folmar is working in the second judicial court circuit to implement a Veterans Treatment Court (VTC), an initiative aiming to help veterans in the criminal justice system connect with resources and reduce the likelihood of incarceration.

At an organization meeting Friday, Folmar shared details of the program with veterans. The goal of the VTC is to provide veterans in Butler, Crenshaw and Lowndes counties with aid and to help connect them with benefits, in an effort to guide them away from adjudication and reduce repeat incarceration of veterans with mental health, substance abuse, housing issues or other life-challenging situations. 

Folmar said due to his experience with family members who served in the military, he began to wonder, “What can I do for veterans? What can I do for the veterans in our circuit and our community to try to help them any way I can?” 

“Veterans courts have been first and foremost in my mind,” Folmar said. “When I was an assistant district attorney, we started one in Coffee County. Now, as a judge, I want to start one here.” 

Those qualified to take part in the VTC will be honorably discharged veterans that are screened by a committee of veterans in the area to determine if they would benefit from the program. The final decision will be up to the District Attorney Charlotte Tesmer’s office to approve or reject the applicant.

From there, veterans enter a 12-month program of counseling, receiving veterans’ services, treatment and regular veterans court appearances. Additionally, participants will be paired with peers to provide advice and mentorship throughout the 12 months. 

“One of the things that we’re going to do is we are going to have a booklet that is a complete listing of every organization that can provide services for our veterans. That means both government organizations and private organizations,” Folmar said. “So that way [the peer] will have an immediate contact. That [peer] can steer [the participant] towards [resources] for… a housing issue, drug issue, whatever issue they might have.”  

To help incentivize veterans in the program, those participating have opportunities to earn rewards for accountability and complying with treatment. Similarly, there will also be sanctions in place for those that do not follow the program requirements. 

When a veteran successfully completes the 12-month program, Folmar said their charges will be dismissed. 

At the Feb. 28 meeting, area veterans were encouraged to sign up as part of the VTC advisory committee. The committee will help determine how many levels the program should have, serve as a panel to screen applicants and formulate procedures and policies for the program. 

“The VTCs [are] all evidence-based courts, and I believe that is going to have a powerful impact in a positive way to reduce recidivism to those that just keep going back and forth,” said Timothy Kemp, a veteran and fatherhood director with the Organized Community Action Program (OCAP). “[It] makes me feel good that we have people that are taking interest in veterans and helping them do what they can’t do for themselves.”

Folmar hopes to have the VTC program ready for a trial run by late May or early June, with the program fully funded by Oct. 1. 

While the program has not been implemented yet, applications will be available through law enforcement agencies and attorneys once it begins.

Veterans interested in volunteering with the program can call Folmar’s office or email him at jon.folmar@alacourt.gov.