Montgomery County Veterans Treatment Court

The Veterans Treatment Court began in April 2011 as part of the Court of Common Pleas, for veterans cycling through the courts and the county prison. Its team is the judge, the District Attorney, the Public Defender, a coordinator, the Treatment Courts department, the county veterans office, VA, the Correctional Facility and law enforcement. Who it takes. A Montgomery County resident (or a resident of a surrounding or transferring county), at least 18, eligible for VA benefits, with pending eligible charges in the county or a probation or parole violation, and diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, a traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, or a psychological or substance use disorder that makes the court clinically appropriate. Legal eligibility may need the Deputy District Attorney's approval, and out-of-county warrants or charges are reviewed case by case. A veteran with co-occurring disorders may be sent to the Drug or Behavioral Health Treatment Court instead. How it runs. Participation is voluntary. Cases come in as diversion (after a plea, before sentence), recovery (after conviction), hybrid, or restrictive conditions of probation. Sentencing may be deferred until the programme is finished, and on successful completion eligible charges may be reduced or withdrawn. It combines intensive supervision and treatment, drug and alcohol testing, a veteran mentor and regular hearings before the judge, with incentives and sanctions. The county aims to admit an approved applicant within 60 days of a complete application. Referral. Anyone may refer, including the veteran, police, a probation officer, a magisterial district judge, a prosecutor or defence counsel, on the Treatment Court application to the coordinator (408 Cherry Street, Norristown; 610-992-7449). Veterans who want to serve as mentors write to the Office of Veteran Services. On the VA eligibility test. The court takes only veterans eligible for VA benefits, so a veteran whose discharge VA treats as a bar should ask defence counsel about the other treatment courts.