Report recommends Hennepin County Veterans Court continue

A two-year review of the Hennepin County Veterans Court, which diverts troubled veterans from jail by connecting them with the services they need to recover, lists some successful stats and recommends continuing the court:

The problem-solving court helps identify and serve veterans struggling with addiction, mental health issues and other problems. Participation in the voluntary program requires the consent from the Veterans Court judge, prosecutor, defense attorney and defendant.

Here are a few of the numbers in the report:

During the first two years of operation, 176 defendants were screened for Veterans Court. Of these, 131 were accepted, 31 were not accepted, and 14 chose not to participate. During the first six months after entry into Veterans Court, 83 percent of participants commit fewer offenses after six months in the program as compared with the six months just prior to entry.

Here's a story I did on the court for MPR News.

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