Galveston County Veterans Treatment Court

Galveston County has run a Veterans Treatment Court under Government Code chapter 124 since its first docket on February 11, 2013; see the Texas entry. County Judge Mark Henry presides; accepted cases are moved to the court for treatment while staying under the district court or county court at law where they were filed. Court office: 409-765-2679. It is supported by a grant from the Texas Veterans Commission's Fund for Veterans' Assistance; the county's fiscal year 2027 application, ratified by the Commissioners Court, asked for $176,000 to serve 35 veterans. Who it takes, on the court's page. A defendant charged with a misdemeanor or felony in Galveston County who is a veteran or a member of the active forces, reserves, National Guard or State Guard, with any discharge: honorable, general, other than honorable, uncharacterized, dishonorable, bad conduct or dismissed. The defendant must have a brain injury, mental illness or disorder, or military sexual trauma that arose from service and affected the offense, or be someone whose participation is likely to protect public safety through rehabilitation, which are the two routes in section 124.002(a). The page also requires residence in Galveston County, which chapter 124 does not. Where the county contradicts itself. The court's brochure and application, dated July 2025, require an honorable or general discharge, allow residence in Galveston "or a county adjoining Galveston County", ask for a condition "related to military service" with no public-safety route, and warn that some prior felony convictions disqualify. The application makes the applicant swear to being on active duty or to an honorable or general discharge. The county's November 2025 grant application told the Commission the court serves every discharge characterization. A veteran with an other-than-honorable or worse discharge should rely on the court's page and section 124.002, and ask the court coordinator or the defence lawyer. How it runs. Voluntary, normally 12 months, on Track 1 (pretrial diversion) or Track 2 (deferred adjudication or probation), with appointed defence counsel for the whole programme and a volunteer veteran mentor. Screening takes about 8 to 12 weeks: an eligibility screen, District Attorney review, staffing, a VA evaluation, a treatment plan and a plea. The District Attorney has final approval of eligibility and of the track offered. The court's page calls the $1,000 programme fee "standard"; the brochure says "up to $1,000", replacing all fines and costs, and that collection depends on the participant's finances. Section 124.005 caps the fee at $1,000 and requires it to be based on ability to pay. Apply online or on the PDF application through the court's page, or ask the coordinator or the veterans service office.