Michigan Veterans Treatment Courts

Chapter 12 of the Revised Judicature Act, MCL 600.1200 to 600.1212, added by 2012 PA 335, lets the circuit court in any judicial circuit or the district court in any judicial district run a veterans treatment court. Since January 1, 2018 every one must be certified by the State Court Administrative Office, and the Michigan courts' own page counted 30 of them on June 30, 2026. Who counts. Section 600.1200(h) needs two things: a veteran under MCL 35.61, which takes any discharge other than dishonorable and counts the reserve components, and at least 180 days of active duty. A Guard or reserve member who never served 180 days on active duty is outside the chapter, however the discharge reads. Who is barred. A violent offender cannot be admitted: someone currently charged with, or who has pled guilty to, an offense involving the death of or serious bodily injury to anyone, or criminal sexual conduct in any degree (600.1200(k) and 600.1203(1)). That is narrower than a bar on every crime of violence. Nobody has a right to be admitted, and a person who already had a case dismissed through a specialty court may enter again but cannot have a second offense dismissed. What admission takes (600.1205). The offense must be generally related to military service, including substance use or a mental illness arising from service. The defendant pleads guilty on the record, waives a speedy trial and counsel at review hearings in writing, and signs a participation agreement. Where the agreement could end in discharge and dismissal, a delayed sentence, deferred judgment or a departure from the sentencing guidelines, the prosecutor must approve first; otherwise the statute does not require the prosecutor's consent. A traffic offense can never be dismissed through the court. A defendant who pled guilty to apply and is not admitted may withdraw the plea. Screening (600.1203(3)). A DD-214 settles veteran status. The substance use and mental health assessments are meant to be VA clinical assessments where practicable, and what the defendant says in screening is confidential and cannot be used to prosecute anything but criminal acts other than personal drug use. Each court sets the rest of its rules in its memorandum of understanding, may charge a fee tied to its costs (600.1206(4)), and may take a participant from another county where the participant lives in its area or the charging court has no veterans court (600.1201(4)).