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Monday, March 15, 2010
By Michael Nichols
Attorney Fred Bell will participate as a mentor for Defendants taking advantage of the new Veterans Court established for Ingham County and operating from 54B District Court in East Lansing.
Veterans Court was recently implemented in the 54 B District Court in East Lansing by the Honorable David Jordon. Participants must be veterans, or on active duty in the military, and includes the Guard and Reserve, who are charged with a criminal offense in Ingham County. Most misdemeanor and four year felony offenses can be adjudicated in the Veterans Court system. Eligible Defendants who volunteer for the program will be screened for appropriate services and matched with a mentor who was in the same branch of service during a similar time period as the participant.
Veterans Court participants will be placed on probation, typically for 18 months, and be asked to meet with their mentor, or probation officer, or Judge, or all three on a regular basis. Appropriate programming and monitoring will also be part of the plan designed to get a handle on the Veteran’s needs. Many programs are available to assist at little or no cost to the vet. The Veterans Court is designed to match those programs to the vet while reducing the impact of the criminal justice system for those who served their country. Participants who take advantage of the Veterans Court program and successfully complete their probation will often avoid conviction for the charged offense and the more severe sanctions customarily imposed.
Judge Jordon recently told the media:
"They (Veterans) were in harm's way for us, and we need to get them a better orientation and approach to life,"
Persons interested in the Ingham County Veterans Court program are urged to contact Attorney Fred Bell at the Nichols Law Firm (517-432-9000).