Dignitaries are expected to gather at noon Monday to kick off a project directed at veterans who face criminal charges, but the real action will likely occur about an hour and a half later when the first Veterans Court calendar begins in Hennepin County District Court.

Modeled after more than a dozen veterans courts across the country, the Hennepin County project will bring together social service agencies, the court and probation system, and the Veterans Administration to quickly move qualifying defendants who are veterans into appropriate services and treatment options.

With the state's largest veterans' population, Hennepin County will serve as a pilot for the project. It is expected to begin modestly, with perhaps 30 to 40 veterans participating the first year, but the court's scope will likely expand thanks to supporters in high places. First District U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, a Democrat who served 24 years in the Minnesota National Guard, is an advocate for the special court and favors its expansion nationwide.

The court came about after defense lawyers, judges, probation officials and other court personnel became concerned about the number of military veterans appearing in courtrooms. Many were showing up with post-traumatic stress disorder, homelessness and alcohol and drug problems that were clearly related to their military service.

The court is expected to screen veterans early in the process, diverting them from the traditional court system to a court where specific programs and Veterans Administration officials can step in quickly. Organizers emphasize that this will not be a "get-out-of-jail-free card," but that it will be more than strictly punitive. Having a case routed to veterans court will require a sign-off from all parties involved, including county and city prosecutors, defense attorneys and the veteran.

Besides helping veterans in the court system, the program also will better identify how many veterans are in the court system. The bulk of those who are getting qualified in other veterans courts have been from the Vietnam era, said John Baker, a defense attorney and veteran who has been instrumental in getting the court started. The full effect on returning soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan may not be felt for several years, but court systems and social service programs have become more attuned to the special needs of veterans, Baker said.

"I'm speechless for how this stuff is beginning to change, and it's about time," Baker said.

Mark Brunswick • 612-673-4434