Ninth Judicial Circuit Veterans Treatment Court (Charleston and Berkeley Counties)

The Ninth Judicial Circuit's Veterans Treatment Court offers justice-involved veterans with substance use disorders or mental health diagnoses an alternative to prosecution in Charleston and Berkeley Counties: a guilty plea with deferral, six months minimum in the Magistrate track and fifteen in General Sessions, with charges dismissed on completion.

Also called: veterans court, veterans treatment court, VTC, Ninth Circuit, Charleston, Berkeley, guilty plea, deferral, expungement, mentor.

For: Veteran or service member.

Where it applies

Written for the jurisdictions listed here.

Charleston County, SCCounty

The Ninth Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office runs the veterans treatment court for both its counties; see the South Carolina entry on how solicitors run these courts. The circuit's own page: "The Ninth Judicial Circuit Veterans Treatment Court seeks to honor veterans by providing an alternative to traditional prosecution and incarceration of justice-involved veterans with substance use disorders and/or mental health diagnoses. The goal is to reduce crime and rehabilitate veterans through court supervision." The two tracks. "Veterans Treatment Court is available for individuals eligible for all VA services in both Magistrate and General Sessions tracks. The Magistrate track requires a guilty plea to charges and a deferral upon successful completion of the program. The program lasts a minimum of six months. The General Sessions Track requires a guilty plea to charges with a negotiated sentence and deferral upon successful completion of the program. The program lasts a minimum of 15 months. Upon successful completion of Veterans Treatment Court, the charges will be dismissed." Contacts. "Questions about the Berkeley program? [email protected]" / "Questions about the Charleston program? [email protected]".

Thresholds

Thresholds for Ninth Judicial Circuit Veterans Treatment Court (Charleston and Berkeley Counties)
Gate	Rule
Justice-involved veteran	The court is for a veteran eligible for VA services with a pending case who enters a plea and volunteers. A disability rating is not the test.

Sources

Ninth Judicial Circuit Solicitor, alternative courtsOfficial

Updated

Last updated 2026-10-08.

What changed then:

First published.

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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.