At a recent graduation ceremony of the Monroe County General Sessions Veterans Court, special guest Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee was on-hand to congratulate the graduates and receive the George P. Thomas Memorial Award for her contributions to the program.
In accepting the award, Justice Lee said, “Monroe County holds a special place in my heart, as do Veterans. I am proud of the success of the Veterans Court in Monroe County and the good work it is doing for Veterans and their families.” She shared with the graduates that she believes in rehabilitation and redemption, and they should feel a sense of accomplishment for their hard work participating in and successfully completing the Monroe County Veterans Court program.
During the awards ceremony, Monroe County General Sessions Judge Dwaine Thomas said, “Justice Lee is from Monroe County, and we are very proud of her. She has always offered encouragement regarding our program and other programs in rural communities, and we are grateful for her support. George Thomas, for whom the award is named, was one of the early founders of Vet to Vet. He was the peacemaker of the group and was always there to give advice and keep people on track. We feel Justice Lee has done the same for the State of Tennessee and especially for Monroe County and other rural counties.”
Justice Lee is a native of and practiced law for 25 years in Monroe County, including serving as county attorney and city attorney and also as a municipal court judge, before ascending to the Court of Appeals and then the Tennessee Supreme Court. Her father, Charles Lee, was a World War II Veteran who was held in a German prisoner of war camp. Justice Lee has shared his story and the stories of other judges and lawyers whose fathers were prisoners of war.
Monroe County Veterans Court Success
Monroe County General Sessions Veterans Court was established in 2014 and welcomed its first Justice-Involved Veteran (JIV) the following year. Over the past eight years, Monroe County Veterans Court has assisted 104 JIVs, 71 of whom have graduated from the program. After graduation, fewer than 4 percent of JIVs reoffend—a success rate of 96 percent.
The majority of Veterans who come into the program are first‑time offenders. The court delves into the medical and psychological reasons for the offense. It also ensures Veterans have the financial means to support themselves in addition to a social support group of family and friends, factors that contribute to success of the program.
Judge Thomas said, “Our program is very personalized. No two treatment plans are the same. I’ve had folks on active duty that I’ve put through the program who go back to base. We’ve teamed with the Department of Defense. We’re actually recognized by them as a treatment court. One of our active duty graduates was sent to officer candidate school after graduating from our program.”
“A key component to this program is Veterans serving as mentors who have gone through what the justice-involved Veterans are going through,” said Judge Thomas. “The mentor has daily contact with the JIV. I think that’s the biggest difference between our model and other Veteran courts which have monthly check ins. We have daily contact that starts immediately. Within five to seven days, they have their first appearance in court. Within 48 hours of their first appearance, I can have them into an evaluation meeting and treatment started typically within 10 to 15 days. We then do weekly status checks in court with each of the Vets.”
Championing Rural Concerns
Mental health and counseling services are provided through the Helen Ross McNabb Center, while in-patient services are handled by the Veterans Administration. “A lot of issues that exist only in rural counties are because of a lack of funding and a lack of access to different facilities,” said Judge Thomas. “I always felt that Justice Lee has tried to make sure these issues are addressed. She looks out for folks in these situations, and we felt it was important to honor her and give her recognition for always being a champion for the rural areas and the folks who have limited access to much needed resources.”
