Dauphin County Veterans Court

The Veterans Court of the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas diverts eligible veteran-defendants with substance dependency or mental illness into a judicially supervised treatment programme as an alternative to incarceration, with regular status hearings, incentives and sanctions, and veteran mentors paired by service branch where possible. Who it takes. A veteran of the United States Armed Forces and a Dauphin County resident, charged with or facing revocation of certain felonies or any misdemeanour offences, who meets a clinical criterion: post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, drug or alcohol addiction, or another Axis I diagnosis such as major depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, or a psychological or substance use problem requiring treatment. Veterans with co-occurring disorders are evaluated but may be routed to Drug Court or Mental Health Court. Disqualifying factors include the type of discharge, a prior record score or offence seriousness beyond the programme's sentencing requirements, no need of treatment, and charges of a violent felony, a Megan's Law offence or a firearm offence. How. Three tracks. The diversionary track takes defendants who would otherwise be ARD-eligible. The incentive track, for a defendant charged with a felony with a low prior record score and no prior felony convictions, reduces the felony to a misdemeanour on completion, on a plea entered first. The standard track is intensive supervision as the alternative to incarceration. Three phases, then aftercare; a participant must complete all recommended treatment, stay drug and alcohol free, attend court sessions and comply with supervision. Apply on the referral form, through defence counsel, the District Attorney or the court. Contact: Myla Dressler, Criminal Justice Assistant, Dauphin County Courthouse, 101 Market Street, Harrisburg (717-780-6767, [email protected]); programme questions go to the behavioral health unit coordinator, Heather Burd (717-780-6756, [email protected]). Veterans can volunteer as mentors on the courts' mentor application.