Lake County Judge Julie Cantrell created the veterans treatment court
Lake County Veterans Treatment Court receives national recognition as Mentor Court
Contributed By: The 411 News
Created in 2014, 300 veterans have completed the treatment court protocol
The Lake County Veterans Treatment Court has been named one of just five national mentor courts by All Rise’s Justice for Vets division and the U.S. Department of Justice.
National mentor courts are exemplary veterans treatment courts selected to serve a three-year term as model programs to assist new or growing courts. These top-tier programs play a significant role in national training, technical assistance, media, and research efforts.
Judge Julie Cantrell established the Lake County Veterans Treatment Court in 2014. “This is a tremendous honor to be nationally recognized for our efforts to help the veterans of Lake County,” Judge Cantrell said. “We now have the opportunity to share our vision for helping our veterans with other courts across the nation.”
More than 300 veterans have successfully completed the treatment court protocol and graduated from the program. There are currently 87 active participants.
As part of the mentor court network for 2025-2027, the Lake County Veterans Treatment Court will help provide guidance and technical assistance to jurisdictions interested in implementing a veterans treatment court, including hosting site visits and one-on-one professional shadowing for team members from other jurisdictions around the country.
“It is a great honor to recognize this court as one of only five mentor courts in the country,” said Justice for Vets director Scott Tirocchi. “This program is a shining example of serving those who have served us and ensuring that our military veterans and service members receive the treatment and benefits they have earned. As a mentor court, this program is helping to lead veterans who might otherwise be incarcerated into lives of recovery and hope.”
There are now more than 4,000 treatment courts nationwide, including more than 500 veterans treatment courts. These programs are considered the most effective intervention in the justice system for reducing crime and substance use while saving millions of taxpayer dollars compared to the cost of incarceration.
The Court works in conjunction with the VA, Volunteers of America, Operation Lima Charlie, Work One, Veterans Life Changing Services, American Veteran’s Collective, The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, The Legacy Foundation and other community partners.
All Rise’s mentor court network is supported by the Bureau of Justice Assistance within the Office of Justice Programs at the U.S. Department of Justice. To learn more, visit https://allrise.org/veteran-mentor-courts/.
Judge Julie Cantrell celebrates graduates of the Veterans Court during the Court’s 10th anniversary last fall.
Story Posted:02/26/2025
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