Blount County Veterans Treatment Court

Blount County's Veterans Treatment Court sits inside the county's Recovery Court programme, whose stated mission is to "successfully habilitate the justice involved veteran by diverting them from the traditional criminal justice system (jail) and providing them with the treatment and the tools they need to lead a productive and law-abiding lifestyle while improving mental health, recovery and successful re-entry into the community". The Recovery Court is funded under a grant contract with the State of Tennessee, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; see the Tennessee entry on veterans treatment courts. Who sits on it. Circuit Court Judge Tammy Harrington presides over the court, General Sessions Judge Mike Gallegos presides for the sessions track, and the team includes prosecutor Ryan Desmond of the Blount County District Attorney's Office, public defender Stacey Nordquist, Veterans Justice Outreach specialist Torrie Dreier of the VA, probation and community corrections officers, and Jimmy Long, director of Blount County 911 Communications. Mentors. The court runs a veteran mentoring programme: applicants fill the county's mentor application and are expected to take part in court observation, ongoing training and supervision by the mentor coordinator, and to pass a background investigation and drug and alcohol screening. The programme publishes a Veteran Mentor Guide. Programme coordinator Heather Watson, MSgt (Ret.), USAF, takes questions at 865-273-5579. Where. 1008 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville 37804; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The court's page posts no published admission criteria; a veteran facing charges asks the coordinator, the public defender or the judge.