RIVERSIDE SUPERIOR COURT ANNOUNCES
EIGHTH ANNUAL VETERANS COURT GRADUATION
MAY 24, 2019
Release Date: May 15, 2019
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 Johnson, will celebrate its eighth graduation class on Friday, May 24, 2019 at 3:30 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 guest speakers will be Congressman Mark Takano, Chairman of the House of Veterans Affairs Committee and Colonel Melissa Colburn, Commander, 452nd Air Mobility Wing, March Air Reserve Base.
Members of the press and public are invited to attend the graduation ceremony.
XXXX
Electronic version available at: www.riverside.courts.ca.gov under Media Center.