Jeanne
LaFazia
Chief Judge
Rhode
Island District Court
You could say Judge Jeanne LaFazia is a
veteran at establishing specialty courts – notably, veterans’ courts – in her
home state of Rhode Island and beyond, and she has achieved that distinction with
drug courts as her model.
Chief Judge of the Ocean State’s District
Court system since 2010, LaFazia is the daughter of parents who both served in
World War II and, incidentally, met each other during their service in the
military.
“I grew up with a quiet but strong
sense of our duty to give back, which was instilled in me by both parents,”
LaFazia says of her commitment to public service in general and veterans courts
in particular.
She came by her interest in veterans’
courts when she was still an Associate Judge. As she recalled in a recent
interview, “I saw [veterans] coming through the system unrecognized,” many of
them having done multiple tours of duty and returning home with concomitant
problems.”
After being named Chief Judge in 2010, one
of her first priorities was to create a veterans’ court in Rhode Island to
address this special population.
LaFazia noted that there are
similarities in the operation of Veteran Treatment Courts and Drug Courts. “They share a common goal of breaking cycles
of substance abuse and criminal behavior, while helping to ensure public safety”. The Veterans Court population, however, is
unique in many ways and the service background of these men and women creates a
different dynamic from other treatment courts.
These military defendants are highly motivated. They put on the uniform to serve their
country and they want to again be contributing members of their
communities”. Chief LaFazia says, “We
have a moral obligation to recognize these men and women and give them the
tools to again become contributing members of society.”
Currently, 48 of the 50 states have
established or are in the process of establishing veterans’ courts, according
to LaFazia, with established drug courts setting the example. The latter, she
noted, have proven their worth, with considerable research and data
demonstrating that success. I suspect
Veterans Courts, if done properly, will be even more successful.
For all that she has accomplished with Veterans
Courts, LaFazia acknowledges much work remains. Asked what Rhode Island needs
to do to make specialty courts more effective, she is quick with a reply: “We
always need support and buy-in from our legislators, and we need to educate the
public. They have to understand what the [specialty court] program really is.” It is no way a free “pass”, but is in fact a
program that combines rigorous treatment and personal accountability.
