photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Judge Amy Hanley is pictured at a public reading of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 23, 2024.

Douglas County District Court has received a $1 million federal grant to create a program aimed at promoting public safety for people in the criminal justice system who have mental health or substance abuse issues related to their military service.

The program, which will establish a new specialty Veterans Treatment Court, is expected to provide an interagency, collaborative, nonadversarial treatment strategy to veterans in the criminal justice system, and it will start next year with Amy Hanley as the presiding judge.

Douglas County’s program will be Kansas’ sixth Veterans Treatment Court. The court aims to reduce recidivism by addressing the unique challenges faced by justice-involved veterans. A recent Justice Department survey found that about 60% of the 140,000 veterans in federal and state prisons are battling substance use disorders, while approximately 25% admitted to being under the influence of drugs at the time of their offense.

“Veterans face a number of challenges. Every time we help a veteran with the support they need to return to a law abiding lifestyle, the benefits ripple through their family and our community,” Hanley said in a county new release. “I care deeply about those who served our country in the military. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this life-changing program.”

The grant, from the Bureau of Justice Assistance FY24 Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program, is made possible through an agreement between the Kansas Supreme Court Office of Judicial Administration and the Seventh Judicial District. It covers the period from October 2024 to September 2029.

According to the release, the core premise of the Veterans Treatment Court is evidence-based early intervention and intensive treatment to drive positive change for both individuals and the community. Early intervention has been shown to lower health care and Medicaid costs, reduce hospitalizations, minimize time spent on complex treatments and supervision, decrease incarcerations and increase participant productivity, the release said.

The Douglas County program will include policies for screening, referral and eligibility. It will operate in five phases over a minimum of 12 to 18 months, using evidence-based supervision practices and setting graduation requirements.

The program will be similar to the county’s existing specialty courts, including Behavioral Health Court and Drug Court. Since its inception in 2017, 78 individuals have graduated from Behavioral Health Court, and 28 have completed the Drug Court program, which began in 2020.

Many graduates have publicly described the programs as “life-changing” for themselves and their families. A 2024 Drug Court graduate wrote: “It’s hard, it’s not easy, but the reward is priceless. It’s not just getting your charges dropped or avoiding prison – it’s getting your life back, a job, your family, a place to live, relationships, respect, money and a future.”