NH Launches First Court for Veterans

New Hampshire launched its first court for veterans July 10 in Nashua, with the state's elected, judicial, military and health care leaders calling it a model for similar efforts across the state.

Gov. Maggie Hassan, Supreme Court Chief Justice Linda S. Dalianis, Nashua Mayor Donnalee Lozeau and New Hampshire National Guard Adj. Gen. William N. Reddel attended the ceremony for new docket, which is part of the 9th Circuit Court, District Division in Nashua under the direction of Judge James Leary.

The goal is to address a set of unique behavioral and legal circumstances for veterans, including substance abuse issues and potential post-traumatic stress disorder.

Judge Leary, in an interview with the New Hampshire Bar Association in May, spoke to the challenges facing veterans in the judicial system. 

"The range of services is tremendous, compared to the average Joe who gets arrested in Nashua," Leary told the Bar News. "I expect it’s going to be a lot easier, because we know when we sentence someone into treatment, we know that treatment is going to be available."

Governor Hassan thanked Nashua, the National Guard, service members and veterans, the public health community and the judiciary for making the Nashua Veterans Behavioral Health Track possible.

An excerpt of the governor's prepared remarks from Thursday's event:

Programs such as the Deployment Cycle Support Care Coordination Program and our Commission on PTSD and TBI demonstrate what is possible when we leverage the efforts of military and civilian organizations, and I am honored to be here today to help introduce the latest partnership that will help serve our veterans.

The Nashua Veterans Behavioral Health Track is poised to become a model for similar efforts across the state, relying on existing infrastructure and supports available through the Community Connections program.

Our veterans, as well as their families and loved ones, have sacrificed beyond words and incredibly bravely in defense of our freedom, and we must ensure that they receive the full support they deserve.

But many of our veterans who are involved in our judicial system have a unique set of health challenges, including mental health, substance abuse and trauma-related issues... And because only 30 percent of the veterans living in New Hampshire are “users” of the VA system, they can experience a completely wide and different range of services.

The Nashua Veterans Behavioral Health Track will help fill this gap, serving veterans who are eligible for VA services, as well as veterans who are not eligible for VA services – ensuring that all veterans who participate in the program receive the services that they need.

By creating a dedicated docket for justice-involved veterans and using existing resources to monitor treatment options, progress and compliance, we can improve the health and well-being of our veterans, as well as the safety of our communities.

The Nashua Veterans Behavioral Health Track will help us build on our efforts to address the mental health and substance use challenge facing our state, as well as our ongoing, never-ceasing efforts to ensure that our veterans receive the services and support that they deserve and need.

The collaboration that it takes to implement this program exemplifies the “all-hands-on-deck” spirit of our people, bringing together different levels of the judicial system, veterans groups, the law enforcement community, public health and public safety officials and many others to help us fulfill the obligation we have to our veterans.