MAY 30th was Memorial Day, when Americans remember those who died serving in the armed forces. Military graves were decorated with flags. Soldiers and sailors marched in parades honouring the fallen. Unfortunately, living veterans are having a tough time. Unemployment among veterans who have served since 2001 is higher than for non-veterans. Veterans make up 20% of all suicides. Nearly a fifth of the homeless population in the United States are veterans. Substance abuse is pervasive. Many more have mental-health problems, which often lead to criminal behaviour. Robert Russell, a judge in Buffalo, New York, after noticing an increasing number of veterans on his docket, in 2008 created the first court specialised and adapted to meet the needs of veterans.

Every Tuesday, Mr Russell presides over “Veterans Treatment Court”, a hybrid of drug and mental-health courts. It aims to divert people from the traditional criminal system. It provides veterans suffering from substance abuse, alcoholism and mental-health issues, with treatment, support, training and housing.

Each veteran is assigned a mentor, also a veteran from the same service, who acts as a coach and, if need be, an “ass-kicker”. If the veterans follow the programme's regimen, which involves regular court appearances, mandatory drug treatment and testing, they could see their charges reduced or dismissed and they could stay out of jail.

Military folk like structure and will follow a good commanding officer anywhere. The troubled veterans seem to want to make the paternal Mr Russell, who never served in the military, proud of them. One, who is going to college, was so chuffed with a recent 97% grade that he brought in the paper to show the judge. Mr Russell was equally proud and asked if he could keep the essay. Another, nearing the end of the programme—which takes at least a year, often two—was given a hearty handshake and a standing ovation by the judge.

To date there has been no recidivism among those who have completed the Buffalo programme. Other jurisdictions are taking notice. Since Buffalo's veterans court began in January 2008, 70 other courts have launched across the country. A dozen more are in the works; almost 2m veterans will be coming home from Afghanistan and Iraq.