There’s now a new program designed to keep first offenders out of jail, but not just any first offenders but military veterans.

Evening the scales of justice through the Veteran Treatment Court.

Half of the men and women serving our county return home with a mental illness, and others with substance abuse issues.

A cause for concern because that behavior leads to incarceration.  Currently there are 700 thousand veterans in jail or prison.

12th Circuit Court Judge Jeff Kelley thought having a veterans treatment court serving Coffee and Pike County soldiers would be beneficial because there are many military bases in the Wiregrass.

“Try to see if there is some kind of service connection issues with the offense such as substance abuse such as PTSD mental health issues,” said Judge Jeff Kelley.

A large number of veterans are arrested for crimes directly related to trauma, addiction, and mental illness.

This new system is based on treatment not punishment.

“Acknowledge sign a form admitting that you committed the alleged criminal offense and you’d plead guilty,” said Judge Jeff Kelley. “The court with holds the jurisdiction that means you have no conviction and we will allow you to go to this program.”

This program connects veterans with mentors who are also veterans and meet with their peers who are going through the same process.

 Nationally this program has a 98 percent success rate; however, some do not finish.

“They can actually be terminated and if they are terminated they have to come back before the court and they are jurisdiction guilty and convicted,” said Judge Jeff Kelley. ” If they complete the program their case is either dismissed or however the district attorney does it. We’ve had one went from a felony to a misdemeanor.”

The success of this strategy is the structure which is similar to what veterans are accustom too

“They are use to discipline they’ve gone through the military and they thrive better when they are accountable,” said Judge Jeff Kelley.

The court system can be a revolving door for many and this has already helped keep 11,000 veterans nationwide to stay out of jail or prison.

“The program not only helps the veterans helps the quality of their lives and their families involved,” said Judge Jeff Kelley. “It increases public safety if they aren’t re-offending.”

Over the last two years veterans treatment court has help 26 people in our area allowing soldiers to return to the family they fought to protect.