Скачать или смотреть 5 People Trained to Become Mentors in Hamilton County Veterans Treatment Court

Hamilton County is another step closer to having a Veterans Treatment Court.


Chattanooga City Councilman Chip Henderson and four other people are the first in the county to become certified mentors for the court.


The group went to Memphis on Monday for a two-day mentor training session through the organization Justice for Vets.


Mentors are an integral component of Veterans Treatment Courts, which are designed to help veterans resolve their issues by means other than jail time.


They are volunteers who work with veterans to navigate the court system and point them to resources they may not be aware they have.


"As a veteran, we've all been there transitioning back from military life to civilian life," said Edwin Holmes, a veteran and one of the new mentors. "I wanted to give back and be that help that I didn't have with transitioning."


According to Henderson, one in nine people arrested in Hamilton County have served in the military.


The combat experience leaves many with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, and substance-abuse issues and can lead them to commit crimes.


Ideal mentor candidates have also served and can offer the veteran defendants the support they need.


"We want to help others. We want to watch out for each other. If it means helping out other veterans who might need some assistance, then we're all for it," said Todd Dockery, who also went through the mentor training Monday.


Henderson says the personalized attention from mentors can make a huge difference.


"You obviously are saving taxpayer dollars in the fact that you are keeping those people from returning to incarceration but you're also restoring lives and you're putting productive citizens back into our society," said Henderson.


A judge has not yet been selected for the court but Henderson says there are judges who have expressed interest and he hopes that the court will be in session by the first of the year.


If you're interested in becoming certified to serve as a veteran mentor, contact Councilman Henderson at [email protected].