Livingston Parish Veterans Treatment Court (21st JDC)

The 21st Judicial District Veterans Treatment Court supports justice-involved veterans by addressing the underlying challenges that contribute to criminal behavior, through accountability, treatment, mentorship and coordinated support services, to help veterans achieve lasting recovery, improve their quality of life and reintegrate into their families and communities. Eligibility, as the court publishes it: the defendant must be a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States as defined by R.S. 13:5364(1); have an open misdemeanor or felony case in the 21st Judicial District Court (Livingston, St. Helena or Tangipahoa Parish); be willing to participate voluntarily; be 18 or older; and meet the federal criteria of a preliminarily qualified offender (34 U.S.C. section 10651). The crime before the court cannot be a driving-under-the-influence charge that resulted in a death. The office is at 12047 Old Baton Rouge Highway, Hammond 70403, mailing P.O. Box 788, Amite 70422; 985-747-6766, Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. for lunch). The staff case manager is Craig Meyer; Elyse Saunders is the receptionist. Volunteer veteran mentors submit a DD-214 for review and undergo a criminal background check, committing for a minimum of eighteen months. Louisiana's veterans court statute is R.S. 13:5361; the State entries carry the framework.