A felony veterans treatment court in the 346th District Court, the second in Texas, running 18 months to three years on probation with the Public Defender. Its handbook states eligibility by the statute's mental health route only, leaving out the rehabilitation route in Government Code 124.002(a)(2).
Also called: veterans court, veterans treatment court, EPVTC, 346th District Court, felony, probation, Government Code 124, mentors.
El Paso County runs a veterans treatment court under Government Code chapter 124; see the Texas entry. It began in 2009, the second in Texas, and sits in the 346th District Court, 500 E. San Antonio, Room 701, on Wednesday afternoons. Call 915-273-3725 and ask for Veterans Court.
Who it takes. The county's page describes the target population as veterans and active service members charged with a felony who have a substance dependency or a serious mental health condition. Referrals come from judges, VA, treatment providers, lawyers, supervision officers and the Public Defender, and go to the District Attorney, who must consent. The handbook's eligibility test is a veteran or current member, reserves, National Guard and State Guard included, with a brain injury, mental illness or disorder, PTSD or military sexual trauma that occurred during or resulted from service. No discharge test is stated.
Narrower than the statute. Section 124.002(a)(2) also admits a veteran whose participation is likely to achieve public safety through rehabilitation, with no diagnosis needed; that route has been in the statute since 2017 at the latest, but the handbook, revised February 20, 2020, does not mention it. Chapter 124 also allows misdemeanor programmes, and El Paso publishes none. A veteran charged with a misdemeanor, or without a qualifying diagnosis, should ask the defence lawyer about section 124.002(a)(2) and about courtesy placement under section 124.006.
How it runs. The participant enters a plea, and the Public Defender represents participants from then until graduation or termination. The programme lasts at least 18 months and at most three years, in five phases: about a year of outpatient treatment with court appearances from weekly to monthly, then six months of aftercare with six months' clean time and volunteer service required to graduate. Participants are assessed by VA for compensation, pension, education and vocational rehabilitation, and for health care, housing and counselling, and are paired with volunteer veteran mentors. The handbook says completion "may result in early release/discharge from community supervision"; termination means sentencing across the full range of punishment. It does not describe the pretrial dismissal that section 124.001(b) allows.
The court is supported by a grant from the Texas Veterans Commission's Fund for Veterans' Assistance.
Thresholds
Thresholds for El Paso Veterans Treatment Court
Gate
Rule
Veteran or current member with a pending felony
A veteran or current member, Guard, reserve and State Guard included, with an El Paso felony case and the District Attorney's consent. No rating or discharge test applies.
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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.