Collier County Veterans Treatment Court

The Twentieth Judicial Circuit, which covers Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Glades and Hendry Counties, runs a Veterans Treatment Court in Collier County under section 394.47891 of the Florida Statutes; see the Florida entry. Administrative Order 3.31 (April 5, 2016) established it. Court sits Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m. in Courtroom 1B on the first floor of the Collier County Courthouse, 3315 Tamiami Trail East, Naples. Who decides. The circuit's page says Judge John McGowan presides, but an order signed in December 2025 reassigned all Collier veterans treatment court cases to Judge Deborah Cunningham effective January 5, 2026. Referrals from anyone - judge, state attorney, defence lawyer, probation, jail staff, the VA, a pastor, family or the veteran - go first to a mental-health screening by the David Lawrence Center for clinical appropriateness, then to the State Attorney for legal approval, then to a contract signed by the veteran, the defence lawyer and the State Attorney, and a plea or admission. The team includes a volunteer veteran mentor programme, whose mentors attend every court date and have no direct connection to the team. Eligibility. The circuit's Collier brochure takes an "Adult Resident of Collier County, Florida, who has served in any of the Armed Forces, for any length of time, regardless of type of service, type of discharge or eligibility for benefits", with a specific mental health or substance abuse treatment need, which may include PTSD or traumatic brain injury, who is legally competent, facing misdemeanor or felony charges or violations of probation, and willing to be strictly sober; prescription medication that may be subject to abuse must be disclosed. Two points sit either side of the statute: the "regardless of type of discharge" rule is wider than section 394.47891, which leaves only dishonorably discharged veterans to the chief judge and state attorney jointly, while the Collier residence requirement is the circuit's own addition the statute does not set - the brochure adds that charges from another Florida county may transfer. Length. Treatment through the VA, the David Lawrence Center or a private provider averages twelve months, with weekly team staffing, incentives and sanctions, and successful completion may lead to a reduction or dismissal of charges. The participant handbook on the circuit's page is dated March 2016; ask the coordinator what governs now. Coordinator: Katie Burrows, David Lawrence Center, 239-263-4013 extension 7125, [email protected].