STATEN ISLAND — A new criminal court will serve Staten Island veterans who suffer from addiction, mental illness or other disorders.
District Attorney Michael McMahon and Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence Marks opened the Richmond County Veterans Court on Tuesday to offer an alternative to jail for veterans arrested for nonviolent crimes.
"There is no greater sacrifice than serving one’s country and my office is committed to honoring and respecting our nation’s veterans by ensuring that their needs are met within the criminal justice system," McMahon said in a statement.
"The new Richmond County Veteran’s Court will offer an alternative to incarceration to veterans accused of committing nonviolent crimes and provide customized tools, treatment and peer mentorship in order to help move them into a better life."
Service veterans — regardless of combat history or discharge status — charged with non-violent crimes can get accepted into the program.
If accepted, they'll be offered treatment for substance abuse, PTSD and other combat-related disorders instead of jail time and the court will also provide services to address other problems like unemployment and homelessness, Marks said.
"The Richmond County Veterans Court will address the root causes of criminal behavior, ensuring that eligible veterans who have addiction problems, PTSD or other disorders related to their military service receive the treatment, services and support they need to turn their lives around," he said.
The program will use other veterans as volunteers to give support and motivation to the people in the court, Marks said.
The court will be presided over by Judge Stephen Rooney, a veteran himself, and will be supported by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Workforce1, the College of Staten Island and local veterans service organizations.
