The people that run the Madison County Veterans' Treatment Court know firsthand the experience of serving in the military. Presiding Judge Charles Romani is a combat veteran who served in Vietnam from 1971-1972 and Veterans' Assistance Commission Superintendent Brad Lavite is also a combat veteran who served in Iraq from 2003-2004.

"Serving in combat situations for a lengthy period of time, there is a lot of stress," Romani said. "You see a lot of things, you may do some things, that eventually get to you, bother you. And you can't on your own shake those feelings."

Both Romani and Lavite said that those experiences often lead to alcoholism, substance abuse and mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

And that was the impetus for the creation of the Veterans' Treatment Court. It gives Madison County military veterans with non-violent or non-felony arrests an alternative to going to jail or having a criminal record.

The Veterans' Treatment Court was initiated by Madison County Circuit Judge Ann Callis after she discovered the first one in Buffalo, N.Y. The Madison County Veterans' Treatment Court was only the third one in the country when it was created in 2009. (Callis was out of town and could not be reached for comment.)

"The main goal is it offers a treatment plan versus a conviction or jail time," said Lavite. "If the veteran would present to the court voluntarily and they stay on track with the plan and with various programs, their charges will be dismissed."

Lavite, who is also a National Guard reservist, said that the Veterans' Treatment Court sees about 80 people a year.

When a resident of Madison County is arrested on a non-felony charge, and identified as a military veteran, he or she is referred to the Veterans' Assistance Commission. The group works closely with the St. Louis Veterans Administration to develop a treatment plan. The treatment plan can be anything from substance and alcohol abuse treatment, family and mental health counseling, employment training or even a referral to a food pantry or housing assistance agency.

Lavite said that many times it's a combination of services that helps get the veteran back on his feet.

"They are actually being asked to do a whole lot more than a drug court is asking," Lavite said. "We're asking them to not only get treatment, we're saying we're going to put a complete plan together. If you're homeless, we're going to get you off the streets; if you're unemployed, we're going to get you in the jobs program."

Once a treatment plan is created, the veteran is required to appear before Romani.

"It is a courtroom situation, but I speak to each one individually," said Romani, who has been a Madison County Circuit Judge since 1983. "They come right up to the bench and we have discussions about how they're doing. For the veterans, the thought is that they respond better with other veterans because they know that other veterans understand what they went through."

The five-member staff of the Veterans' Assistance Commission usually follows up with the veteran for 12 to 18 months after they have completed their treatment plan. Lavite said that since the inception of the program two years ago, they have had 30 to 40 'successful graduates."

"Of course we'd like to see them come in in other ways but for some of these people, it's a way to get treatment," Lavite said. "For many of them, this is the last glimmer of hope that they have."

Contact reporter Ramona C. Sanders at 618-344-0264, ext. 136