Ramsey County will launch its new veterans court Thursday in hopes of connecting veterans with resources to help them rebuild their lives and overcome the obstacles that led them to criminal activity.
The effort, one of many in Minnesota and across the country, is targeted at veterans charged with nonviolent crimes who may be suffering from emotional and mental health issues, chemical dependency and employment problems connected to their service.
The specialized court track will operate much like mental health, drug and DWI court, but will differ in bringing other players into the cases, such as local and federal veterans officials.
"No one can predict how the consequences of combat will manifest themselves," said Maj. Gen. Richard C. Nash, adjutant general of the Minnesota National Guard. "It's not a get-out-of-jail-free card."
Nash was among several partners who gathered Friday to announce the new effort, which took shape over a year of planning among officials from St. Paul, the county, the community and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The veterans court track is funded through 2016 with a $350,000 federal grant and about $118,000 from the Ramsey County attorney's office.
It's built to handle up to 25 cases at a time. The court will meet once a week before two rotating judges, when only veterans' cases will be heard.
One attorney each from the county and St. Paul city attorneys' offices will prosecute the cases. Veterans can hire private attorneys or work with public defender Evan Tsai, a U.S. Marine, who is designated to handle such cases.
