By Cecilia Chan
Independent Newsmedia
Glendale is looking at the possibility of setting up a court that handles cases involving veterans.
The city already has a mental health court, which has helped reduce cost and repeat offenders among those with a mental disability.
“Our judge did some survey and research and determined there is a need,” said Mayor Jerry Weiers, a proponent of veteran issues. “Everyone has agreed it is necessary for us to figure out how to get a veterans court here in Glendale. I will be working on the next few months on finding a funding source. ”
Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers
The mayor said funding would likely come in fiscal year 2018-19.
“Whatever we do, we want to do it correctly,” he said. “We don’t want to do it wrong.”
The only Valley communities with veteran courts so far are Phoenix, Mesa and Tempe. Maricopa County also has one.
A veterans treatment court model removes veterans from the regular criminal justice process and helps address symptoms that are unique to veterans, such as post-traumatic stress disorder or substance abuse. In a veterans treatment court, the presiding judge works alongside the veteran and a specialist to establish a structured rehabilitation program that is tailored to the specific needs of that veteran.
Glendale is home to more than 15,000 veterans, according to Maricopa Community College District’s Veteran Success Project. Luke Air Force Base also is in the city’s backyard.
Assistant City Manager Tom Duensing said staff is working on the issue.
“There have been several concepts floated around, one of them is to have a veterans court in Glendale only but another concept is a regional concept,” joining with other West Valley communities to form the court, he said.
He said a more in-depth feasibility and cost study still needs to be done.