Press Release  Norfolk County Veterans Treatment Court celebrates sixth graduation

Boston — The Norfolk County Veterans Treatment Court held its sixth graduation on November 12 at the Norwood Town Hall.  A total of seven men, ages 30 to 56, completed the program founded by retired Judge Mary Hogan Sullivan who served as the keynote speaker at the ceremony.

This graduating class is the Veterans Court’s largest to date, according to Dedham District Court Chief Probation Officer William Laubenstein. Graduates credited the comprehensive 24-month post disposition program for turning their lives around.  The probationers served the country as members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and National Guard. By participating in the court, probationers have sustained employment, housing, sobriety, and family relationships, Laubenstein said.  Judge James Byrne, who has taken over the leadership of the court from Hogan Sullivan since her retirement, presided over the ceremony.

"We are excited about this being the sixth graduating class of our Veteran Treatment Court. This program has not only had a positive impact on the participants but on their families as well. These proud veterans are receiving the help that they deserve to meet the challenges of everyday life," Laubenstein said.

Laubenstein lauded Dedham District Court Probation Officer (PO) Timothy Holloran for his work with participants.  Holloran has been the designated PO for the Veterans Treatment Court since 2016.

“Tim does a fabulous job of holding our veterans accountable. He spends a great deal of time with this court along with his normal caseload,” he said.

Veterans Court is based on five different phases, which typically take a minimum of two years to complete. Participants must meet a set of pre-determined requirements to advance through the phases. New arrests may result in the offender repeating a phase or being cut from the program. The five phases include orientation, introduction to treatment, initiation to treatment, full engagement in treatment, and stepping down from treatment and community integration.

Pictured above: Front Row left to right: Tim Kelly, John Ruggerio, Adam Briere and Tim Chase, Back Row left to right: Eric Flavin, PO Tim Holloran and Randy Collins.  Absent from the photo is graduate Edward Hurley.

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