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The Lake County Veterans Treatment Court has been named one of five national mentor courts by All Rise’s Justice for Vets division and the U.S. Department of Justice.
“This is a tremendous honor to be nationally recognized for our efforts to help the veterans of Lake County. We now have the opportunity to share our vision for helping our veterans with other courts across the nation,” Lake Superior Court Judge Julie Cantrell said in a news release.
Cantrell presides over the Lake County Veterans Treatment Court, which was established in 2014. More than 300 veterans have successfully completed the treatment court protocol and graduated from the program. There are currently 87 active participants.
The court works in conjunction with the Department of Veteran Affairs, Volunteers of America, Operation Lima Charlie, Work One, Veterans Life Changing Services, American Veteran’s Collective, The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, The Legacy Foundation and other community partners.
National mentor courts are exemplary veterans treatment courts selected to serve a three-year term as model programs to assist new or growing courts. These programs play a significant role in national training, technical assistance, media, and research efforts.
As part of the mentor court network for 2025-2027, the Lake County Veterans Treatment Court will help provide guidance and technical assistance to jurisdictions interested in implementing a veterans treatment court, including hosting site visits and one-on-one professional shadowing for team members from other jurisdictions around the country.
“This program is a shining example of serving those who have served us and ensuring that our military veterans and service members receive the treatment and benefits they have earned,” Justice for Vets Director Scott Tirocchi said in a news release. “As a mentor court, this program is helping to lead veterans who might otherwise be incarcerated into lives of recovery and hope.”
There are now more than 4,000 treatment courts nationwide, including more than 500 veterans treatment courts.
These programs are credited with reducing crime and substance use while saving taxpayer dollars when compared to the cost of incarceration.
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