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Second Judicial District Court officials and local veteran volunteers gathered Thursday, May 15, in the Crenshaw County Main Courtroom to hear updates about a new initiative launched to serve U.S. Military Veterans. The group learned that everything is in place for the program aimed at assisting veterans who find themselves in the court system by connecting them with the mentors and resources needed for them to get back on the right track.

“It is with great excitement that we can officially announce the starting of a Veteran’s Treatment Court (VTC) Program for the Second Judicial Circuit,” said Crenshaw County District Judge Jon Folmar, who is spearheading the program. “We are accepting applications that can be submitted to the Crenshaw County District Court, Court Referral Program or District Attorney [Charlotte Tesmer’s] Office beginning June 1.” 

According to Folmar, veterans facing any misdemeanor and non-violent felony are eligible to apply. All applications will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to see if the program would be appropriate for the applicant. 

“It is the function of the VTC team to try to make all veterans eligible for VTC and treatment, if possible,” he explained.

A service available to veterans in Butler, Lowndes and Crenshaw counties, Veteran’s Court officially begins July 14, with the first meeting set to take place at the Crenshaw County Courthouse in Luverne. 

“We will have a VTC steering committee (team) meeting at 8:30 a.m. that morning and court begins at 9 a.m.,” Folmar said. “We will take all plea-ins first and then go over the requirements for the applicants including their handbook.”  

The court has recruited a team of veterans who volunteered to act as mentors to program participants. The volunteers will receive training prior to their paring so they are prepared to assist participants as someone who “has been there.”

“I feel that one size doesn’t fit all,” said veteran volunteer Timothy Kemp. “We need to have some type of training.”

“A mentor acts as an encourager, a counselor, [someone] to help them through the program,” Folmar said.

After the July 14 session, the VTC will meet 30 minutes prior to court to discuss applicants, rewards and sanctions as well as treatment options, Folmar said. Each session will follow a program where plea-ins will go first followed by rewards and then sanctions.

Folmar noted that all applications first go to the district attorney’s office for approval and then to the District Court or to the Court Referral Program (CRP) before being presented to the VTC for their approval.  

Once approved, participants must pay a $500 fee:  $250 to the District Attorney’s Office and $250 to the CRP for monitoring.  

According to Folmar, participants may also have separate monthly or individual fees that apply for drug testing costs. 

“We are trying to minimize the costs for our veterans,” Folmar said. “Once in the program, they may be required to pay court costs and/or restitution which will be set up on payments on an individual basis.” 

Veterans Court is a 12-month program, a cooperative effort between the Veterans Administration, the District Attorney, the District Court, CRP and mental health agencies.

For more information, contact Folmar at (334) 335-6568.