Saginaw County's veterans treatment court, ordered into existence in 2013 by the 10th Circuit and 70th District Courts with the Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center, takes any honorably discharged veteran charged with a misdemeanor or felony other than its listed ineligible offenses. The State's certified list puts it at the 70th District Court serving Saginaw, Midland and Bay counties.
Also called: veterans court, veterans treatment court, SCVTC, 70th District Court, 10th Circuit Court, Aleda E. Lutz, VA medical center, specialty court, mentor.
The 10th Circuit Court and the 70th District Court established the Saginaw County Veterans Treatment Court by parallel local administrative orders effective 2013, with a Memorandum of Understanding joining the Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center, the Prosecuting Attorney, the Sheriff, Community Mental Health, the criminal defence bar and the county's veterans services. The order and the MOU are a scan without a text layer, read by OCR. It sits today at the 70th District Court, 111 South Michigan Avenue, Saginaw; the State Court Administrative Office's certified list of May 7, 2026 gives the phone as 989-790-5363 and the counties served as Saginaw, Midland and Bay (see the Michigan entry on veterans treatment courts).
Who it takes, by the MOU. "Any honorably discharged veteran is eligible for the SCVTC", charged with any misdemeanour or felony except the crimes on Exhibit 1 of the Letter of Agreement, and no one may be admitted under an agreement dismissing a traffic offense on completion. Entry is governed by MCL 600.1205: the court, the prosecutor or the VA may refer, eligibility is confirmed with the Saginaw VA Medical Center, and the veteran then obtains a substance abuse or mental health assessment there. Staff also screen the daily jail booking report for candidates.
Against the statute. Michigan's statute (see the Michigan entry) admits a veteran under MCL 35.61 with any discharge other than dishonorable and 180 days of active duty, and bars only violent offenders as MCL 600.1200(k) defines them. The court's honorable-discharge rule is narrower than the statute's; the statute's other terms still apply. Nobody has a right to admission, but a veteran with a general discharge can ask about another court or a transfer under MCL 600.1201(4).
What it involves. Weekly sessions of the shared 10th Circuit and 70th District docket, with veteran mentors trained by the county's veterans services, VA treatment where the veteran is eligible, and deferred sentencing under MCL 771.1 or participation as a condition of probation; a judge, defence counsel, the VA and the prosecutor must all agree to a felony defendant's entry.
Thresholds
Thresholds for Saginaw County Veterans Treatment Court
Gate
Rule
Honorably discharged veteran with a pending case
The court asks for an honorable discharge and a pending misdemeanour or felony outside its ineligible list; the statute adds 180 days of active duty. No rating is needed.
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Disclaimer
VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.