Johnnie Watson was looking sharp in his dress blues, and for good reason.
Watson was one of 10 graduates of the first Lake County Veterans Treatment Court program Wednesday. The 69-year-old Calumet Township resident said he lives one day at a time after being arrested for drunken driving and ending up in jail two years ago.
As part of the program, participants complete 18 to 24 months of supervision, which is monitored through Lake County Community Corrections. Participants must report to their case manager as scheduled.
Through the program, Watson submitted a plea agreement and successfully met the requirements for the case to be dismissed. “I didn’t have a driver’s license, but I got that back,” Watson said.
It wasn’t an easy journey, with trips back and forth to court, the Veteran’s Administration for treatment and the Lake County Community Corrections Kimbrough Work Program for meetings.
“I look at it like, I was a Marine. I can get through a whole hell of a lot more than this,” said Watson.
His mentor, retired Gary police Detective Sgt. Thomas Branson, said his role was to keep in touch by phone and in-person visits with Watson and Aristotle Munoz, an Air Force veteran who served in Europe from 2002 to 2008.
Munoz, of Hammond, said he focused on staying on the right path. “He (Branson) stuck with me. He was always there,” Munoz said. “He made it very much a learning process.”
Wednesday’s graduation in the auditorium at the Lake County Government Center highlighted the veteran’s treatment court graduates, the court team led by Lake Superior Court Judge Julie Cantrell and about 50 mentors, all of whom are military veterans.
Mentor Tom Dorris said he was proud to be part of the military, where people look out for each other. “When I volunteer as a mentor, I know I’m supporting someone who would support me if the circumstances were reversed,” Dorris said.
Judy Love, the veterans treatment court coordinator, said eligible candidates for the program must have an honorable, less than honorable or general discharge from a branch of the U.S. military. They must have a substance abuse and/or related mental health disorder and have been charged with a non-violent misdemeanor and/or felony, up to a Level 2. Cantrell, public defender Randy Willie and deputy prosecutor Chris Bierce review the cases individually. Town or city courts, county courts and the four felony division courts in Lake County can refer individuals to the program.
Love coordinates services through the VA for participants, such as counseling and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, substance abuse or mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.
Case manager Jake Otto develops a case plan to help the participants with whatever issues are causing concern and refers them to the appropriate agency. Help is also available for family members.
The ultimate goal, Love said, is “guiding them back to get the help they need, to reduce recidivism and get the family back together.”
Before they appear in court, the team gathers to assess the participant’s progress to determine if they are ready to advance to the next phase.
Cantrell joked that the program isn’t like her regular court proceedings. “My cheerleader side comes out,” she said, noting that she’s gotten to know the graduates and some of their families pretty well.
The participant must plead guilty to an offense, and Cantrell takes the plea agreement under advisement for the 18 to 24 months required to complete the program.
All 10 graduates had their cases dismissed.
“It’s a great motivation to get the end result we’re working for,” Cantrell said. “We’re really placing them in a program of care and treatment versus a sentence,” she said.
Ruth Ann Krause is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Learn more
Any individuals who are interested in serving as mentors may contact Judy Love at 219-755-3850, Ext. 311.
