Whitley County Veterans Treatment Court (Whitley Superior Court), Taking Huntington and Kosciusko Referrals

The programme. "The Veterans Treatment Court has a purpose of helping participants achieve total abstinence from drugs and/or alcohol, address mental health issues, be diverted from prison or jail, and to have a more satisfying law-abiding life." "The Veterans Treatment Court program is voluntary." Participants attend support groups and treatment as indicated, are subject to "strict community supervision", random drug testing and regular court appearances, and are paired with volunteer veteran peer mentors. Who is eligible. "Whitley County Veteran's Treatment Court (VTC) will provide services to felony and misdemeanor offenders who meet eligibility criteria as follows: A diagnosable substance dependence and/or A diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress and/or other non-psychotic mental health disorder and/or A Traumatic Brain Injury that doesn't result in an inability to benefit from treatment and/or; At least 18 years of age; A veteran or service member of any branch; A military discharge of 'Honorable' or 'General' ('Other Than Honorable' to be decided case by case); Admission is authorized by the VTC Judge; A resident of Whitley County, or a county bordering Whitley County; An offense committed in Whitley County (Huntington County and Kosciusko County referrals also accepted)." Not eligible: a serious (psychotic) mental illness or a brain injury that prevents benefit from treatment; sex offences, murder, dealing, trafficking, robbery and batteries of Level 5 or higher; and a pending case in another jurisdiction unless that county's prosecutor also refers. How. Under deferred prosecution the prosecutor (Whitley's, or the originating county's) decides whether the person is screened; a Referral Form and Application are submitted, the coordinator or case manager screens and assesses, and the team and judge decide eligibility. Applicants may also need to see the VA's Veterans Justice Outreach coordinator and the county Veterans Service Officer. Admission follows IC 33-23-16. The court's team is led by the judges of Whitley Superior Court; contact: 351 W Plaza Dr, Columbia City, IN 46725, (260) 248-3113.