A post-plea veterans treatment court in Lawrence, DOJ-grant funded through 2029, fifteen to eighteen months, capacity ten, open to any discharge type with out-of-county residents needing VA health eligibility, ending in expungement on completion.
Also called: veterans treatment court, VTC, Lawrence, expungement, mentor, probation.
The Douglas County Veterans Treatment Court's mission is to empower United States veterans in building meaningful, productive and law-abiding lives by connecting them with community resources and treatment providers. It mobilizes community resources and intensive treatment throughout the criminal justice process with the goal of enhancing public safety and reducing veteran recidivism.
Funding and process. The court is funded through 2029 by a grant from the Department of Justice, part of a statewide effort to increase access to alternative courts in Kansas; grant funds provide staffing, materials, training and some treatment costs. It is a post-plea court with an expected duration of fifteen to eighteen months. A participant who withdraws or is terminated returns to the originating division and resumes sentencing. On completion of the VTC requirements the participant receives expungement.
Who is eligible. To qualify, veteran applicants must be charged with a qualifying felony or misdemeanor offense. Veterans are considered regardless of service and discharge type; however, veterans residing outside Douglas County must qualify for VA health services and have reliable transportation to court. The court has a starting capacity of ten veterans and was accepting applications. Applications, which should include DD-214 documents if the veteran has them, can be submitted by community partners, defense attorneys, defendants or any other involved person.
Sessions and mentors. The first court session was held October 29, 2025; the treatment team meets 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and court proceeds at noon, with subsequent sessions four times a month from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. Mentors are volunteer veterans; the court began assigning mentors in early 2026. Judge Amy Hanley presided at the opening ceremony on October 22, 2025.
Thresholds
Thresholds for Douglas County Veterans Treatment Court
Gate
Rule
Veteran charged with a qualifying offense
Applicants must be charged with a qualifying felony or misdemeanor; any discharge type is considered, and out-of-county veterans must qualify for VA health services and have reliable transportation.
Post-plea, capacity ten
The court is a post-plea programme with a starting capacity of ten veterans; a withdrawn or terminated participant returns for sentencing.
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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.