Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) mentors were honored with the San Diego County Bar Association’s Distinguished Organization Award at their annual ceremony earlier this month. The award recognizes the network of volunteer mentors, all veterans, who connect with VTC participants to support and guide them as they navigate the treatment and criminal justice systems. 

Veterans Treatment Court brings veterans or active-duty service members with criminal convictions and unique mental health conditions stemming from their military service to a rigorous, highly monitored, treatment-based period of probation rather than incarceration. 

VTC is a three-phase treatment program that lasts a minimum of 15 months and up to 60 months. Each phase requires treatment specific to the individual’s needs and participants are required to complete a project giving back to the community before they graduate. On average, participants typically spend about two years in the program while they go through intensive treatment and acquire the tools to treat their mental health issues and become productive citizens. Upon successful completion of VTC, fees can be waived and criminal charges can be dismissed.

Veterans Treatment Court Mentors 
Along the way, each VTC participant is paired to work one-on-one with a fellow veteran serving as their mentor. Mentors offer guidance, connect participants with activities in the veteran community, support sobriety, and most importantly, become a trusted advisor and friend. 

Mentors frequently attend court with their VTC participant mentee, provide valuable updates and feedback to the collaborative court team, and encourage full engagement in treatment. 

Currently, Veterans Treatment Court has 19 volunteer mentors. Patrick C. Russell and Susan D. Into were specifically recognized in the San Diego County Bar Association’s recent award ceremony.

Mr. Russell has served as a mentor since the start of VTC in 2011 and has set the standard. He served in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves, retiring as a Special Forces Team Sergeant. Mr. Russell meets one-on-one with most defendants being evaluated for admission to VTC, relieving their skepticism of both the program and their own worth or abilities. He is skilled at reassuring veterans that they can succeed in this program and return to being productive members of society. Mr. Russell has personally mentored 24 VTC participants, including some who face the most significant challenges. 

Ms. Inot has been involved with VTC for the past nine years and was a coordinator of the VTC mentor program. She is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, serving during the Cold War and Persian Gulf Wars. Ms. Inot has mentored 10 successful VTC graduates, including some participants with considerably complicated histories and diagnoses. A nurse and midwife by trade, she has been an exceptional mentor to participants trying to reintegrate with family, resume parenting roles, and plan for future employment. 

Each VTC mentor brings their own experiences and strengths to connect with participants individually. This relationship is vital to the success of the program and its participants. Many current mentors have served in this supportive role for years, helping multiple VTC participants through their program and often maintaining contact with them after the court process concludes.

Veteran Mentors Needed: Apply Now 
VTC mentors must have served in active or reserve duty in any branch of the U.S. military. Many mentors have a therapy or counseling background, but it is not required. Training is provided to new VTC mentors.

Once paired with a VTC participant, mentors are asked to commit to serving as a mentor through their participant’s journey, with a monthly time commitment of at least 6-12 hours.

Veterans interested in becoming a mentor should submit the online interest form by June 30, 2025. VTC mentor coordinators will contact interested individuals to set up a phone screening and give additional information on next steps.

About Veterans Treatment Court 
A total of 216 veterans have successfully completed the Veterans Treatment Court program since it began in February 2011.

VTC is a collaborative effort between the Superior Court, the San Diego County District Attorney's Office, San Diego City Attorney’s Office, San Diego County Probation Department, the Defense Bar, including the Public Defender’s Office, the San Diego Vet Center, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and all of the veteran mentors who volunteer their time to guide participants through the program. Veterans Treatment Court’s weekly sessions are presided over by Judge Laura J. Birkmeyer.

Veterans Treatment Court is one of several collaborative courts that advocate for the best solutions to protect public safety while transitioning offenders back into the community, with appropriate treatment and supervision to reduce the likelihood of recidivism.