Veterans court aims to rehabilitate, reform those who served

To complete the veteran’s court program, offenders have to take part in counseling and often residential recovery, leading to sobriety. It can take months, even a couple of years.

“Our entire job is to try to get them back into being productive members of the community like they once were,” Jenny Kulland, with Salt Lake County Criminal Justice Services, said. “And then they’re always welcome back. That’s the thing. It’s an open door, the VA is always available to them and will be forever because of their service.”

At the end however, charges are typically reduced or, like in Army veteran Benjamin Hubert’s case, dismissed.

“I’ve had these charges hanging over my head for almost seven years, now,” Hubert said. “It has been difficult, extremely difficult. But the most meaningful thing up to this point that I could have ever done with my life.”

Veterans, however, are not immune to recidivism, though administrators report an overall high success rate, with 81% staying out of the justice system after graduation in 2024.

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