The straight and narrow can be the road to success
Treatment court graduates biggest class; judge says it ‘really works’
The pandemic has upended a lot of things in Bexar County, including the administration of justice, but Felony Veterans Treatment Court just graduated its largest class yet — 11 felony offenders who got a route out of trouble with treatment programs.
The ceremony took place last week in 186th District Court, with the two judges who supervise it in virtual attendance.
The specialty court is an intense program run by Judge Jefferson Moore in 186th and Judge Lori Valenzuela in 437th District Court.
Their courtrooms are across the hall from each other, and both hold their VTC docket on the same day, at the same time.
“COVID-19 certainly challenged us,” said Moore, a former judge advocate general who served 20 years in the Army
Reserve and in active duty in the National Guard.
He said the pandemic greatly affected treatment regimes. Although a Zoom meeting on a small video screen is not as dynamic as a live, in-person hearing or face-to-face counseling session, the adjustments were necessary, Moore said.
“But, all of our participants are former military members, and they often realize that their military training gives them the skills to adjust to unusual situations,” he added. “They are doing their best with the restrictions the pandemic has placed on them.”
John Herman, the program’s coordinator, echoed those sentiments.
“When the pandemic hit, we had to adjust,” he said. “I can’t say enough how proud I am of these 11.”
The judges take their success in the program into consideration when deciding the outcome of their criminal cases.
This was the third class to graduate from the specialty court, which launched officially on Veterans Day in 2017.
In August, a commencement for seven participants occurred mostly on Zoom, with a few peopele appearing in person wearing masks.
The inaugural class in October 2019 graduated four men. Since then, the program has grown, including taking on a new staffer in Carolyn Alvarado, who assists Herman as court support specialist.
Each takes the word “support” seriously.
“We’re always going to be around to help them,” Alvarado said.
Participants, former servicemen and women facing problems with drug or alcohol abuse, mental health challenges or post traumatic stress disorder, are expected to attend weekly meetings with the judges and a team of professionals, and undergo counseling, therapy and weekly urinalysis testing.
Herman said the program had to go almost completely virtual because of the pandemic, which could have caused some difficulties in a program that requires a lot of personal interaction.
Herman said the 11 who graduated did not let the new normal derail their goals. None of them, in the nearly two years it takes to complete VTC, have reoffended.
“Eleven out of 11, zero re-offenders,” Herman said. “That is a huge thing for me. What we are doing really works.”
Moore said VTC recently was recognized for its efforts by the federal government, securing a grant for $500,000 over the next three years to help pay for staff and help with training costs and other activities.
“As you can imagine, we are excited about that,” he said.