Buffalo City Veterans Treatment Court

Buffalo City Court started the country's first veterans treatment court in 2008, and it remains Erie County's: veterans charged with crimes are linked to VA care and veteran mentors under the court's supervision, whatever their discharge.

Also called: veterans court, veterans treatment court, VTC, Buffalo City Court, Judge Robert Russell, mentor.

For: Veteran or service member.

Where it applies

Written for the jurisdictions listed here.

Erie County, NYCounty

The Unified Court System says Buffalo City Court created the first veterans treatment court in 2008, "realizing that veterans have special needs that were not being adequately served". Judge Robert Russell, who founded it, wrote the attorney's guide the court system still publishes, and the model has spread across New York. Where. Buffalo City Veterans Treatment Court, Buffalo City Court, 50 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202; 716-845-2695. How it works. A team of the judge, prosecutor, defence counsel, treatment providers, VA staff and volunteer veteran mentors supervises the veteran's treatment in place of the usual course of the case. The Unified Court System says its veterans treatment courts accept veterans with all characters of discharge. Chapter 91 of the Laws of 2021 lets a case from elsewhere be moved to a veterans treatment court in an adjoining county.

Thresholds

Thresholds for Buffalo City Veterans Treatment Court
Gate	Rule
A veteran with a criminal case	Every character of discharge is accepted. Eligibility is decided case by case. No rating is needed.

Sources

Updated

Last updated 2026-10-02.

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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.