MINUTES for 08-28-2018 FINAL - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 28, 2018 Page 5 Chair Doolittle apologized, he thought it was a Veterans Drug Court. Deputy Director Messina confirmed no, it is the County's drug court. Emile Wery Veterans Services Organizations take care of their own people. The VFW in Hilo got some guys that are messed up and other members monitor them. VSO's depending on how focused or strong they are, take care of their own. Deputy Director Messina VJO similar to VSO. The courts got a new VJO who came from Florida and his job is to get more participation in the Veterans Treatment Court. Veterans Treatment Court has three goals, 1) take the homeless guys off the streets help them out as best as they can, 2) help get their convictions expunged and 3) make sure they don't drop off the face of the earth which is what the problem is now. Chair Doolittle asked what the rate of recidivism is. Deputy Director Messina explained 0% right now in Hawaii and that is because there aren't that many of them and everyone keeps in touch, you become friends. Hawaii is one of the lowest in the nation for recidivism. Once a year, everyone gets together and tries to help one another out. Everyone who has graduated comes back and helps out the guy who is graduating. For a guy to finish Veterans Treatment Court, they have to have a job, have a place to live and get off of probation. If they don't comply with any of those requirements, you can't get out of Veterans Treatment Court, that's because Veterans Treatment Court has a lot of services available to them. Chair Doolittle asked is there a large percentage of those in Veterans Treatment Court homeless? Deputy Director Messina said not necessarily, some of the guys are there because of drugs and other things, but you can't be a violent criminal. You can't have a violent offense to get into Veterans Treatment Court. Right now they are doing a large outreach campaign to Police Officers, Attorneys to let them know, if you have Veterans to encourage them to go through the application process to be a mentor. There are about three or four on each side of the island. Vice -Chair Brulee Wilson asked if there are any females (in the program). Deputy Director Messina answered yes. In fact the Probation Officer for Veterans Treatment Court in Hilo is a female, past Army Officer. We've had two females in Veterans Treatment Court and we actually transferred them to a Veterans Treatment Court in the mainland closer to where their family/support system is. Vice -Chair Brulee Wilson asked if it's true that you have to match (mentors) gender and branch of military.