Glasgow Announces Nine Veterans Graduate Will County Veterans Court, Bringing Total To 40

August 21, 2019

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow has announced that nine veterans graduated from Will County’s Veterans Court in an August 21 ceremony at the Will County Office Building. Glasgow petitioned for the creation of the Veterans Court in 2012 to provide treatment, counseling, and assistance to local veterans who have struggled with mental health and substance abuse disorders since returning home from military operations.

The nine graduates served in the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force. They hail from Mokena, Romeoville, Joliet, Hazel Crest, Dolton, Bolingbrook, Plainfield, and Beecher. This latest class brings to 40 the number of individuals who have graduated from the Will County Veterans Court. 

“All too often, veterans who have served our country suffer from substance abuse problems or mental health disorders stemming from their service,” State’s Attorney Glasgow said. “Those of us in the criminal justice system have an obligation to acknowledge this service and provide our veterans with the treatment and counseling necessary for them to regain their lives.”

In addition to State’s Attorney Glasgow, Judge Daniel Rippy who presides over Veterans Court and Will County Problem Solving Court Coordinator Julie McCabe Sterr spoke at the ceremony.

The Veterans Court assists veterans by keeping non-violent offenders out of state prisons through counseling, substance abuse treatment, mental health therapy, and job location services. Through Veterans Court, veterans in the criminal justice system are offered an inter-agency, collaborative, non-adversarial treatment strategy. Participants are required to remain drug free, submit to random drug tests, find work, follow through with treatment and attend weekly counseling sessions.

In addition to the Veterans Court, Glasgow was instrumental in establishing the Will County Drug Court, Mental Health Court, and Adult Redeploy Illinois Court.