PowerPoint Presentation

Veterans Court -
Mayor Weiers CIOSI 
Glendale City Court,  Nicholas C. DiPiazza, Presiding Judge

This presentation will respond to the Council Special Item of 
Interest articulated by Mayor Weiers on January 12, 2021:
To fully examine the requirements and resources 
necessary for the implementation of a Veterans Court 
in Glendale.  
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Council Special Item of Interest

• To enhance public safety and reduce recidivism by 
adjudicating cases involving Veterans of the U.S. Armed 
Forces, while ensuring justice for victims and the accused, 
by coordinating efforts with the VA to provide targeted 
services to achieve sustained accountability and successful 
reintegration into the community.
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Mission

A reduction in crimes perpetrated by Veterans and mitigation 
of unemployment and homelessness within the community of 
those who served, through the appropriate adjudication of 
cases and by addressing issues at the root of crime involving 
Veterans.
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Vision

• Veterans Courts have been in existence for many years 
nationwide. In Arizona, Phoenix, seven East Valley cities and  
Lake Havasu City all have a Veterans Courts and they have 
continually achieved positive results.
• Efforts are underway in the Maricopa County Justice Courts 
to establish a Veterans Court at the NW Regional Court 
Center, located in Surprise, that will accept cases from the 
26 Maricopa County Justice Courts (not from city courts).
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BACKGROUND

• A Veterans Court in and for West Valley Cities is long 
overdue.
• There has been a growing interest in establishing a 
consolidated West Valley Regional Veterans Court to service 
Municipal Court cases. 
• We have an opportunity now, for Glendale to exercise a 
leadership role by establishing a Veterans Court.
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West Valley Regional Veterans Court

• The Glendale City Court Veterans Court will go beyond 
providing judgments. It will endeavor to identify and address 
issues that are at the root of the commission of crime and 
the condition of homelessness by Veterans.
• The City Court will initially use existing resources to 
implement a Veterans Court.  Size and scope of the 
program will be managed to remain within budget.
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Concept of Operations

• The Court, in cooperation with partners, will develop 
innovative “pre” or “post” adjudicative solutions, as may be 
appropriate to each case, in order to achieve the Mission of 
Veterans Court, one case at a time. 
• The Court will leverage services provided by and through the 
VA. It will also continually seek available grants and other 
resources necessary to achieve solutions, enhance the 
program and improve customer service.
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Concept of Operations (cont.)

• With the consensus of Council, the Glendale City Court team 
will proceed with the implementation of Veterans Court with 
a projected commencement of operations on October 1, 
2021.
• The Court will engage other West Valley Municipal Courts  
seeking to join and will negotiate IGAs providing for 
participation and cost sharing. 
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Conclusion

Questions?
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Council Special Item of Interest
Glendale City Court
Nicholas C. DiPiazza
Presiding Judge