Carver Dakota Veterans Treatment Court Is Formed: Keena

DAKOTA COUNTY, MN — Dakota County Attorney Kathryn Keena announced the formation of Carver Dakota Veterans Treatment Court.

The treatment court is in collaboration with Carver County, Keena said.

"Dakota County had explored establishing its own veterans treatment court; however, it was
determined doing so wasn’t feasible given the limited number of qualifying participants coupled with the limited judicial resources currently available in Dakota County," Keena said. "Collaborating with Carver County is an efficient and effective use of resources that makes a valuable program available to current and prior service members residing in Dakota County who are involved in the criminal justice system."

Keena said she initiated the collaboration in August and was supported by the Dakota County Veterans Service Office and the Dakota County Community Corrections Department. Carver County has operated its own veterans treatment court since 2014, she said.

Carver Dakota Treatment Court was approved by the State Treatment Court Initiative Advisory Committee in October and began accepting qualifying veterans from Dakota County in November, Keena said. Three Dakota County veterans have been admitted into the program so far, according to the news release.

"Treatment courts are an innovative and effective solution to leading people living with substance
use and/or mental health disorders out of the criminal justice system and into lives of recovery and stability," Keena said. "They are built upon a partnership between the criminal justice system and treatment providers who work together toward a common goal of breaking the cycle of substance use and/or mental health disorders and criminal behavior."

In addition to the Carver Dakota Veterans Treatment Court, Dakota County also has two separate treatment courts for adults and juveniles, as well as the Family Dependency Treatment Court, Keena said. Dakota County is the only county in Minnesota to have a treatment court for juveniles, she said.

Keena thanked thank Judge Cain, Carver County Attorney Mark Metz and Chief Public Defender Steve Holmgren for their willingness to collaborate on the treatment court. She also thanked Dakota County Community Corrections Department and Veterans Service Office for their assistance.