A county-coordinated veterans treatment court in Superior Court for Buncombe County residents with a mental health or substance use disorder charged with lower-level felonies or misdemeanours. Anyone with at least one day of active duty or VA medical care qualifies, with any discharge except dishonorable.
Also called: veterans court, veterans treatment court, VTC, criminal, treatment court, District 40, Asheville, Justice Services.
Buncombe County coordinates three treatment courts, one of them the Veterans Treatment Court, whose mission is "to promote public safety through accountability and responsibility, and to assist and support veterans and their families through a coordinated effort among the court and community-based Veteran services, thereby leaving no veteran behind". The Judicial Branch lists Buncombe (District 40) among the counties with an operating veterans treatment court.
Who may take part. A participant must be 18 or older, a Buncombe County resident, with an alleged mental health or substance misuse disorder, charged with "F-E felonies and/or Misdemeanors", and must "have served at least 1-day of active duty military service; or receive VA medical care". All discharges are accepted except dishonorable. The participant must understand and agree to the programme, complete an intake and a comprehensive clinical assessment, and be approved by the District Attorney's office. That is wider than many veterans courts: an other than honorable or bad conduct discharge does not bar entry.
How to get in. Ask the defence lawyer to request a referral. The lawyer sends the court's referral form to the treatment court's assistant district attorney, and the coordinator screens the case.
What it involves. The handbook (last updated April 2024) sets out five phases, a high-risk track of at least 16 months, regular court appearances, drug testing by daily call-in, community service and a curfew in the first phase. Probation supervision carries the standard $40 monthly fee, and participants pay court costs, fines and restitution as ordered. The team includes the presiding Superior Court judge, VA's Veterans Justice Outreach specialist, the District Attorney, the Public Defender, a county clinician, a Buncombe County Veterans Services officer, sheriff's deputies and a certified peer support specialist.
Thresholds
Thresholds for Buncombe County Veterans Treatment Court
Gate
Rule
At least one day of active duty or VA medical care; any discharge but dishonorable
Buncombe County resident, 18 or older, with a mental health or substance use disorder and an eligible charge, approved by the District Attorney. No rating is required.
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Disclaimer
VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.