JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — We're proud to share the Stories of Service of the brave men and women in our armed forces. That also includes their service when they no longer wear a uniform.
In this week's Stories of Service, we head down to the Duval County Courthouse for a different type of court.
"The way I was brought up, I wasn't brought up to be a shouter," said Judge Mose Floyd, "I don't use profanity."
After 22 years in the Marines, Mose Floyd retired as a Lieutenant Colonel, but he stayed busy after that and became a Duval County judge in 2011. By 2017, he became the presiding judge over Veteran Treatment Court.
"I let them know that I care for them individually, that I want to see them get better and that personal connection means all the difference in the world," said Floyd.
A quasi-commanding officer for veterans dealing with substance abuse and qualified criminal charges.
"Knowing they have a commanding officer as a judge who's experienced the military lifestyle also, it provides an opportunity to be more open, more trusting of the system, seeing this is not the same court they left on the criminal side," said Floyd.
Depending on the charges following their arrest, the veteran is given the option of going through Veterans Treatment Court instead of prosecution by the state. Part of VTC requires attendance of a 12 Step program.
"We've got some things here we call our secret sauce," said Floyd, "one is the mentors and others is the fellow vets sitting on the pews with them to be more open and engaged in the treatment. We have fellow vets out on the bench with them and at different phases of the program they're also able to reach over and lend a listening ear and guide them through the rough spots.
In his seven years as the judge of VTC nearly 200 veterans have graduated from the program and regained their place in society.
"We're trying to restore the self esteem they had when they wore the uniform, the sense of responsibility, contributing back to the community," said Floyd, "it's just a pleasure to see lives turned around because it means so much and that's why I'm still doing this seven years later."
The amount of time a veteran spends in Veteran Treatment Court depends on the progress of the veteran but is a year at minimum. Currently, 41 veterans are in VTC and Floyd said he's happy to help any veteran in need.
More information about Veteran Treatment Court can be found on this website.
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