St. Charles County Veterans Treatment Court

The 11th Judicial Circuit runs a Veterans track within its Treatment Court under Mo. Rev. Stat. 478.001.7; see the Missouri entry. Judge Dennis Chassaniol presides over the treatment court; the administrator is Gina Colaneri ([email protected]), and Laurie Dodd is the veterans defense attorney. Who. Two tracks, by the circuit's participant handbook (last revised March 2026): - post-plea: charged with a felony; - post-dispositional: on probation for a felony with at least 24 months left. On both, the defendant must have a substance use disorder or mental health issue, no evidence of significant drug dealing, no violent charges, history of violence or history of sex offenses, not be on parole, resolve any charges elsewhere in one disposition, and be able to meet the SCRAM and ignition interlock rules where they apply. The handbook sets no discharge test. How it works. The Prosecuting Attorney screens and approves candidates first, then VA's Veterans Justice Outreach specialist assesses eligibility, and the team makes the final decision. The programme runs in phases over at least 12 to 18 months, with court every other week at first and monthly or less later, drug and alcohol testing, treatment, a veteran mentor, and 60 hours of community service before graduation (the handbook prints 240 with an asterisk for some participants). Many participants have their charges dismissed; others are kept out of the Department of Corrections. Costs. A co-pay to the drug testing company for each sample, the SATOP assessment ($375) and the SROP assessment where required, and restitution, court costs and recoupment before graduation. An indigent participant can be admitted case by case after talking with the judge and administrator.