THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL 46 | MARCH 2026 of post-traumatic stress disorder before being ordered to treatment in VTC. John’s success left a lasting impression on the program – literally. Each graduate receives a military-style “challenge coin” upon graduation from the program. These coins now feature a phrase that was John’s motto for the program, which he picked up in military service, and for his life: “Always Forward.” Tulsa County VTC has graduated over 400 veterans from its program since that first docket call. Nearly 80% of the veterans who plead into the program complete it with a successful graduation. There are currently five VTC programs in the state of Oklahoma, operating in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Creek, Comanche and Canadian counties. A Tulsa County graduate, requesting to remain anonymous, who served as an officer in the Army, once said, “I would like to see a veteran’s treatment court within reach of all of my soldiers in need.” Veterans treatment courts are designed to leave no person behind. The justice system is not. Are you willing to go the extra mile to help a veteran who was willing to lay down their life defending our freedoms? If you are interested in starting a veterans treatment program in your area, please reach out to Tammy Westcott with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.8 Leave no veteran behind. ABOUT THE AUTHOR District Judge Rebecca Brett Nightingale serves as the supervising district judge for alternative courts in Tulsa County, and she presides over the Tulsa County Veterans Treatment Court. ENDNOTES 1. R.C. Davis, B.E. Smith and A.J. Lurigio, (1994): “Court Strategies To Cope With Rising Drug Case Loads,” The Justice System Journal, 17, 1-18. 2. Greg Berman and John Feinblatt, (2001): “Problem-Solving Courts,” Center for Court Innovation, 3-4. 3. E.B. Elbogen, S.C. Johnson, V.M. Newton, K. Straits-Trester, J.J. Vasterling, H.R. Wagner and J.C. Beckham, “Criminal Justice Involvement, Trauma, and Negative Affect in Iraq and Afghanistan War Era Veterans,” J Consult Clin Psychol 2012 December; 80 (6): 1097-102. Doi: 10.1037/a0029967. Epub Oct. 1, 2012. PMID: 23025247; PMCID: PMC3514623. 4. U. Orak, (2023): “From Service to Sentencing: Unraveling Risk Factors for Criminal Justice Involvement Among U.S. Veterans,” Council on Criminal Justice: https://bit.ly/4r1K6W9. 5. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Suicide Prevention: 2024 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report. 2024. Retrieved Feb. 5, 2026, from https://bit.ly/4aAPpGb. 6. Gary Hicks, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Vanguard. January/February 2009. Retrieved Feb. 5, 2026, from https://bit.ly/4ajeJiT. 7. https://tcacp.org/veterans-treatment-court. 8. Tammy.Westcott@odmhsas.org. Statements or opinions expressed in the Oklahoma Bar Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Oklahoma Bar Association, its officers, Board of Governors, Board of Editors or staff. I lost a colleague to depression. I wish I had known how much he was hurting. Don’t give yourself the additional burden of trying to deal with this alone. Just talking releases a lot of pressure, and it might be the resource you need to regain your balance. It is okay to ask for help. — Ann E. Murray, Oklahoma Bar Association Member Get help addressing stress, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, relationships, burnout, health and other personal issues through counseling, monthly support groups and mentoring or peer support. Call 800-364-7886 for a free counselor referral. If you are in crisis or need immediate assistance, call or text 988, Oklahoma's Mental Health Lifeline. www.okbar.org/LHL Free Confidential Assistance
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