St. Johns County Recognizes the Veterans Treatment Court of  St. Johns and Putnam Counties Graduating Their 100th Veteran

• 16 July 2024
• Category: SJC News District 2
• Tags: 2024

At the regular St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, July 16, Sarah Arnold, Chair, District 2, issued a certificate of recognition in honor of the Veterans Treatment Court of St. Johns and Putnam Counties graduating their 100th veteran on May 31, 2024. Judge Howard McGillin, Cynthia Thompson, Veterans Treatment Court coordinator, and Bill Dudley, Chairman of the Veterans Council of St. Johns County, attended the meeting to receive the proclamation.

On January 19, 2017, the Seventh Judicial Circuit established a Veterans Treatment Court in St. Johns County to serve the distinctive needs of veterans involved in the justice system. This specialized court provides substance abuse and mental health services to veterans, active-duty service members, and other eligible individuals, offering an alternative to traditional judicial outcomes.

The Veterans Treatment Court, a dedicated interdisciplinary team, working with other agencies, focuses on breaking the cycle of addiction and self-destructive behavior that leads to an individual’s involvement in the criminal justice system. With over 21,000 veterans living in St. Johns County, one of the highest concentrations of veterans in Florida and the United States, this program plays a crucial role in the community.

The Veterans Treatment Court helps participants return to a healthy and productive way of life and serves the community by significantly reducing participants’ criminal recidivism rates.