Lake County Veterans Treatment Court

Indiana courts may run veterans' courts under IC 33-23-16; see the Indiana entry. Lake County's Veterans Treatment Court gives "alternative sentencing to offenders who are veterans of the United States Armed Services", through the county's Community Corrections department in Crown Point. Who. Adult veterans with "an honorable, less than honorable or general discharge", charged with a felony from Level 2 to Level 6 (or a Class B to D felony under the older code); misdemeanor cases "will be considered based on history and intervention needs". The court targets participants diagnosed with a substance use disorder, with or without a co-occurring mental health disorder. How it works. Three phases over 18 to 24 months, with movement between them set by the Indiana Risk Assessment System and the participant's progress; complying with the case plan can mean fewer court appearances and lighter supervision. Veteran mentors give peer support throughout. The discharge wording. "Less than honorable" is the court's phrase; it appears to reach an other-than-honorable discharge, but a veteran with a bad conduct or dishonorable discharge, which the page does not mention, should ask defence counsel to raise eligibility with the court. A veteran charged in another county can ask to be referred to a veterans' court under IC 33-23-16-12(c).