November 9, 2011
ÿlortlanh (Dbseruer
Page 5
A Court for At-Risk and Suffering Vets
Peer mentors
reach out to
those trying
to cope
C ari H achmann
T he P ortland O bserver
by
Larry Phelps was welcomed
back from Vietnam like many
soldiers returning from the vio­
lent and controversial war, with
post traumatic stress disorder
and a cold shoulder. Forty years
later, he is still learning to cope.
After the war, Phelps felt se­
cluded from society. Even now
he avoids social contact as a
way to control his symptoms of
anger, aggression, and erratic
behavior. “I don’t like people,”
he said, “I stay isolated.” When
Phelps finally went to Veterans
Affairs in 2004, after an injury
caused him Jo have a mental
breakdown, he was diagnosed
with PTSD.
For Phelps, every situation is
photo by C ari H achmann /T he P ortland O bserver
a matter of life or death; a pos­ Hugh Casey (from left), Larry Phelps and Mike Wilbur led dissimilar lives after service in the Vietnam War, but now all share a com-
sible conflict around every cor­ mon experience with their involvement with Clark County's Veterans Court.
ner. He frequently has panic and
anxiety attacks. Since the war, part of their treatment program,
he has been dismissed from 37 veterans are matched with peer
jobs and has lost contact with his mentors, or volunteer veterans
two daughters and only family. that have been honorably dis­
"It’s hard to deal with some­ charged, to help guide them
body with PTSD, because any­ through the justice process.
Currently, the court serves 14
thing sets you off,” said Phelps,
who has trouble trusting author­ veterans with 8 peer mentors.
ity figures. “I don’t function very Many within the court’s system
believe peer mentors are the
well in society.”
In 2011, a DUI charge brought best chance for a veteran’s suc­
Phelps to the Clark County Vet­ cess.
"A lot of veterans are lost
erans Court, which opened last
spring as one of three therapeu­ when it comes to receiving ser­
tic courts in Washington to offer vices," said Mike Wilbur of the
alternative treatment and sen­ Washington Department of Vet­
tencing for vets with mental dis­ erans Affairs. "If we guide them
through the convoluted system,
orders.
Veterans facing misdemeanor it takes away a layer of stress,
charges who also suffer a men­ and they can focus on recov­
tal illness and/or substance abuse ery."
Stress takes a toll on returning
have the option to plead guilty in
therapeutic court with Judge soldiers. Men and women who
Zimmerman, and then undergo join the military at a young age
treatment rather than serve jail are taught quickly to take orders,
think collectively, and work as a
time.
If s estimated that out of40,000 unit. During combat, when the
veterans in the Vancouver area, unit undergoes strife together,
less than one percent encounter the group becomes a closer knit
legal issues, with countless more group, explains Wilbur.
When veterans come home,
at risk.
Let's make safe places to play
A $350,000 grant from the they may grieve that loss of ca­
U.S. Justice Department will maraderie and bond to their fel­
a priority in our neighborhoods.
low
soldiers.
allow the court to see up to 50
"Some veterans feel ignored;
incarcerated or at-risk veterans
Go> multco-itstartshere.org
continued
on page 8
over the next three years. As
Because
every child
needs a safe place
to run and play