Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009

Durbin visits Madison County veterans court, hints of funding

EDWARDSVILLE - U.S. Sen Dick Durbin on Veterans Day met with leaders of Madison County's veterans court and said federal dollars might be on the way for such programs.

Madison County's veterans court, which began in March, is aimed at getting nonviolent soldiers with otherwise clean records into treatment, sparing them a criminal conviction. Treatment can include psychological counseling or drug and alcohol rehab. Other forms of assistance can include help finding a job or a place to live.

The head of the Madison County veterans court is Circuit Judge Charles Romani Jr., an Army sergeant during the Vietnam War. The prosecutor is a former Marine corporal, the public defender a former Navy lieutenant.

Romani, who saw combat in Vietnam, said the court currently has 12 participants enrolled. He said if the program can return a veteran to being a good citizen, society benefits in terms of safety and in real savings: It costs about $30,000 a year to imprison someone in Illinois.

Romani said the court's participants, almost all of whom are in their 20s, so far have attended all of their court appointments and counseling sessions, and have avoided getting into more trouble.

Tyler Bateman, the public defender, noted how the participants in veterans court are different from those in other courts. For example, they arrive on time and they all stand when the judge enters the courtroom.

"They've had structure in their lives. If we can get them assistance, they're going to be alright," Bateman said.

Romani said veterans sometimes turn to alcohol and drugs to suppress memories after returning home from duty, or they mistreat family members. Then they end up in court.

"When veterans are going to start having problems, it manifests itself first in the family," Romani said.

Some experts say combat veterans spend their tours of duty on edge and on high alert for gunfire, explosions and other dangers -- life-altering experiences that can only be understood by other military members. Combat veterans also commonly suffer post-traumatic stress disorder.

"The stress, those of us who have been through it, you're wound tight, 24/7," Romani said.

Yet many veterans, particularly older ones, are reluctant to ask for help.

"You shouldn't ask for assistance. You don't need help, you're a veteran," Romani said, describing the common attitude for veterans.

Durbin said federal lawmakers are looking at ways to assist veterans courts.

"We're working on some legislation that would help these courts across the country," he said.

Romani said the Madison County program could use funding for a mentor coordinator, who would match up participants in the court with volunteers from veteran organizations. The judge said in some veterans courts, the volunteers provide help in a variety of ways, from being a listener to helping the fellow veterans cut through red tape.