Denton County Veterans Treatment Court

Denton County runs a Veterans Treatment Court Program under Government Code chapter 124; see the Texas entry. Judge Forrest Beadle presides, the programme works out of County Criminal Court No. 3, 650 S. Mayhill Road, Denton, and it has a Texas Veterans Commission grant. Who it takes, as the county states it. A veteran or current member, reserves, National Guard and State Guard included, with a case pending in Denton County and an injury, disorder or trauma that occurred during or resulted from service; the veteran must volunteer and the Criminal District Attorney has final approval. The District Attorney does not take sex offenses or drug dealing, and takes most crimes against children, most aggravated offenses, intoxication manslaughter and most intoxication assaults only in extraordinary circumstances. Narrower than the statute. Three places. - Discharge. The county's FAQ lists "separated from military service (Honorable, General Under Honorable conditions)". Chapter 124 sets no discharge test, so an other-than-honorable discharge is excluded only by the county. - Combat. The booklet (March 2023) asks for a condition "which resulted from the veteran's military service in a combat zone or hazardous duty area". Section 124.002(a)(1) asks only that it occurred during or resulted from military service; military sexual trauma and training injuries need no combat zone. - Rehabilitation route. Neither page mentions section 124.002(a)(2), which admits a veteran whose participation is likely to achieve public safety through rehabilitation. How it runs. After screening, independent evaluations and an Integrated Treatment Plan, the veteran pleads guilty; the judge accepts the plea without a finding of guilt and orders the programme, which targets 12 months in three phases. On the diversion track the District Attorney moves to dismiss on completion, once fees are paid, and the defence lawyer prepares an expunction, which the court may not charge for. On the probation track, completion can shorten supervision and a participant who entered on or after September 1, 2017 may petition for non-disclosure. Costs are means-tested: $60 a month supervision to the Community Supervision and Corrections Department and classes at $50 to $225, with the court paying drug tests and evaluations and an indigent veteran never refused for inability to pay. Apply through the defence lawyer, or call the programme manager on 940-349-4387.