A felony and misdemeanor veterans court in County Court at Law No. 2, 6 to 24 months, with no programme fee. It states both of Government Code 124.002's routes but adds an honorable or general discharge, VA eligibility, residence in or near Fort Bend, and a bar on anyone who has been through a veterans court before; its exclusions still cite a repealed article of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Also called: veterans court, veterans treatment court, FBCVCP, County Court at Law 2, pretrial intervention, deferred adjudication, Government Code 124, Richmond.
Fort Bend County runs the Fort Bend County Veterans Court Program under Government Code chapter 124; see the Texas entry. Judge Tyra Jones McCollum of County Court at Law No. 2 presides over both felony and misdemeanor cases, with VA's Michael E. DeBakey medical centre jail diversion team (a Veterans Justice Outreach coordinator and a forensic psychiatrist) on the court team.
Who it takes. A veteran or current member, Reserves, National Guard and State Guard included, with a pending eligible offense and the District Attorney's consent, who:
- has an honorable or general discharge, or is serving;
- is a legal resident or citizen of the United States;
- lives in Fort Bend or a surrounding county;
- is eligible for VA services; and
- has a service-related brain injury, mental illness or disorder, or military sexual trauma that affected the conduct, or, considering the circumstances, background and history, is likely to be rehabilitated consistently with public safety.
Exclusions. A pending or prior sexual assault, drug delivery, or "3g" offense (other than aggravated assault); serious and persistent mental illness that prevents participation; a dishonorable discharge; and any earlier termination from or graduation from a veterans court.
Narrower than the statute, and out of date. Chapter 124 sets no discharge, VA-eligibility, residence or citizenship test, and section 124.006 lets a defendant charged in Fort Bend be supervised in a programme where the defendant lives. The exclusions cite "Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 42.12 Sec. 3(g)"; that article was repealed when the community supervision law was recodified on January 1, 2017, and the list now sits in Article 42A.054.
How it runs. Admission brings pretrial intervention, deferred adjudication or community supervision. Three phases over 6 to 24 months, with monthly court reviews and contact with a community supervision officer that tapers from three times a month. There is no fee to take part, though the veteran may pay for some testing and treatment. Referrals come from law enforcement, the jail, judges, lawyers, prosecutors, clinicians, family or friends.
Thresholds
Thresholds for Fort Bend County Veterans Court Program
Gate
Rule
Honorable or general discharge, or serving; VA-eligible; Fort Bend or nearby resident
A serving member, or a veteran with an honorable or general discharge, eligible for VA services and living in Fort Bend or a surrounding county, with a pending eligible case. No rating is needed.
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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.