Recent NY1 Coverage

Metro New York Coverage

January 2009

Judge Jo Ann Ferdinand and the Brooklyn Treatment Court (BTC) are proud to continue their legacy of innovation by the development of a Veterans Court. The purpose of the court is to address the specific and unique needs facing veterans today. All BTC veteran participants will be calendared together on one designated day per week to provide consistent judicial monitoring and specialized case management services.

A critical component of the Veterans Court includes the development of a Veterans mentorship program. BTC veteran participants will be matched with a community based Veteran Mentor who will serve as a role-model to them as they build a supportive relationship. This enhancement will provide an additional supportive component to the existing drug court model.

In addition, BTC has expanded its existing partnerships with community-based treatment providers to include veteran-specific substance abuse and mental health services. By increasing its collaboration with community-based organizations, BTC offers a comprehensive systemic approach to treating chemically-dependent veterans in the criminal justice system.