![]() ![]() Secretary McDonald thanks court mentor Jack O’Connor and his mentor team for helping other veterans in the court. ![]() On Friday, July 17 Secretary Bob McDonald met with Buffalo Veterans Treatment Court Judge Russell and leaders from Justice for Vets to talk about the importance of VTCs. Today, there are 220 operational VTCs in the U.S. The first Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) was started in 2008 in Buffalo, NY. ![]() VA Secretary McDonald Meets with Judge Robert Russell () “What we’re saying to ourselves was, ‘What the hell happened?’ The guy had never talked, only mumbled.” The Ithaca Voice is an online-only nonprofit news site serving Ithaca and Tompkins County. “He looks the judge right in the eye and said, ‘Judge, I’m going to do better,’” O’Connor recalled. “He was in a good program, but there were no veterans in it.”Īfter talking with the two men, the veteran came back to the court and stood at parade rest. “All that man wanted was to talk to other Vietnam veterans,” O’Connor said. Russell asked O’Connor and Pirowski, both Vietnam veterans, to have a chat with this veteran. A Vietnam veteran stood before Russell, looking at the floor and mumbling in response to questions. (Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc.: 1961) veterans, former enemies should not march side by side. It all started when O’Connor and Pirowski were observing drug and mental health court sessions. Hank Pirowski, court coordinator for the county’s mental health court at the time, and Judge Robert Russell also helped get the program going. O’Connor, the former program director for Medicaid in Erie County, N.Y., started the court in 2008 with two other veterans advocates. Veterans who would be in prison - and without treatment - are healing and rebuilding their lives. It’s been 10 years since the first veterans treatment court started in Buffalo, N.Y., and Jack O’Connor is pleased with what he’s seen over the past decade. Ten Years of Second Chances – VFW A decade ago, officials at a New York court were stunned at how veterans charged with non-violent crimes responded to an offer of help ![]()
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