RIVERSIDE SUPERIOR COURT ANNOUNCES SEVENTH

ANNUAL VETERANS COURT GRADUATION

Release Date: May 15, 2018

Contact: Marita C. Ford, Public Information Officer

RIVERSIDE COUNTY:

The Riverside County Superior Court is pleased to announce that the Riverside Veterans Court, presided over by Judge Mark Mandio, will celebrate its seventh graduation class on Friday, May 25, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. in Department 1 of the Historic Courthouse located at 4050 Main Street, Riverside, California.

The Riverside Veterans Court is a collaborative effort between the court and other agencies such as the District Attorney, Public Defender, Probation Department, Department of Mental Health and the Veterans Administration (VA). Volunteer veteran mentors also assist the veteran participants. This unique collaboration was implemented in January 2012 and focuses on a treatment-based alternative to incarceration for veterans in the community charged with committing crimes linked to issues such as traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, or mental health issues resulting from his or her service in the U.S. armed forces. The program is authorized pursuant to Penal Code Section 1170.9, which requires a nexus between the issues that have caused the veteran to intersect with the criminal justice system and their military service.

Each of the graduation veterans in attendance have successfully completed a minimum 18-month intensive treatment program (or a 12-month program for veterans convicted of specified misdemeanors) that includes regular drug and alcohol testing, weekly individual and group counseling, mental health services, self-help meetings, as well as support from veterans and Veterans’ Court partners in the community. Ongoing aftercare services are available to all graduates to ensure continued success.

The keynote speaker will be Dr. Bryan Reece, President of Norco College.

Members of the press and public are invited to attend the graduation ceremony.

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Electronic version available at: www.riverside.courts.ca.gov under Media Center.