Fayette County State Court Veterans Treatment Court

Georgia's accountability courts, including veterans treatment courts, rest on Code section 15-1-17; see the Georgia entry. Fayette County's State Court judge, Jason B. Thompson, created the Griffin Judicial Circuit's first DUI/Drug Court in 2016 and, four years later, the Veterans Treatment Court; both focus on "alternative sentencing for those criminal defendants with Substance Use Disorders and/or Post Traumatic Stress Disorders." Who it takes. "Candidate must be a veteran with service in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, or corresponding reserves or National Guard," charged with possession of a controlled substance, a prescription drug offence, or "Criminal charges in which drug use is a major factor or where there are indications that trauma or mental illness may have a factor", with no excluding factors. Referrals come from police, probation, defence lawyers, prosecutors, families and judges. What it asks. Individualised treatment and counselling under court supervision; random drug screens (call every morning from 5 to 8 a.m.); two AA or NA meetings a week; 32 hours a week of work, community service or school; and court twice a month, where fees are due at the first session. In return: "reduction in jail time/fines, and community service (based on program compliance and active participation), and assistance with license reinstatement when eligible." Who to call. Jourdan Crawford, Accountability Courts Coordinator, 770-716-4328, [email protected]; case manager Stacey Sitten, 770-716-4265. The programme's site (factinc.org) carries a 2025 participant handbook. The Board of Commissioners heard an update on the court's growth on January 22, 2026, and on August 13, 2026 a commissioner recognised its latest graduation.