F R O M T H E S T A T E A T T O R N E Y
A n d r e w H. Wa r r e n - S t at e A t t o r n ey
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treatment sessions, and frequent and random testing for
drug and alcohol use.
Established in 2013, the VTC is the result of
collaboration between the court system, the Public
Defender’s Office, the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs, and the State Attorney’s Office. The judges who
have overseen the VTC — Judge Gregory Holder and
currently Judge Michael Scionti — are essential to its
success. Perhaps the most critical factor to success,
however, is the partnership with mentors from
Hillsborough County Veterans, a 501(c)(3) organization
of current and retired veterans who volunteer to serve as
“battle buddies” to the VTC defendants. Each veteran-
defendant is partnered with a mentor who assumes the
tremendous responsibility of supporting that person
throughout the duration of case — and often after.
Seeking to build on the VTC’s past success and that of
other problem-solving courts, in 2017 our office created
a supervisory attorney position to oversee our Mental
Health, Veterans Treatment, and Drug Courts. This
position allows for greater continuity between the
problem-solving courts and simplifies bringing new
innovations to each court. It is part of our commitment
to focus on treatment rather than incarceration for
community members suffering from substance abuse or
mental illness.
Our problem-solving court chief, Jeria Wilds, is a 14-
year assistant state attorney who served in the U.S. Army
as an officer in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. In
her oversight of the problem-solving courts, Wilds and
her team focus on the root of problems that bring people
into the system, rather than a punitive approach that
perpetuates the revolving door of the system.
Hillsborough’s VTC has become a national model for
handling the distinct issues facing veterans in our criminal
justice system. In just a few years, VTC has greatly
expanded. With the court infrastructure firmly in place,
more veterans are being identified as suitable VTC
candidates, and the stakeholders continue to seek
additional legislative and grant funding to grow this
program to meet the needs of all servicemen and
servicewomen in our community.
Veterans are a critical part of the Hillsborough County
community. Our office, along with our criminal justice
partners, is proud to be part of this amazing program —
not only to support veterans who have made mistakes, but
also because it furthers our core mission of improving
public safety while promoting fairness and justice. n
NOV - DEC 2019
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HCBA LAWYER
HCBA Participates in
Two Judicial Investitures
hcBa was proud to participate in two recent investitures of
new judges appointed to the bench at the thirteenth Judicial
circuit. Judge thomas palermo was invested on august 22, and
Judge Jessica costello was invested on september 19.
as part of the ceremony, hcBa traditionally brings greetings
and congratulations, while also presenting the new judges their
first robe. in addition, the young lawyers division also presents
a bible for their swearing-in. congratulations to Judges palermo
and costello!
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