VETERANS TREATMENT COURT (VTC)

The 21st Judicial District Court Veterans Treatment Court is a court-supervised program coupled with intensive treatment and supervision, directed at diverting individuals with prior military service from the traditional criminal justice framework.  It is a hybrid of the current Drug and Mental Health Court models, serving veteran-status individuals struggling with addiction, mental illness, trauma-related disorders such as PTSD, and/or co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders. This is a voluntary program that includes regular court appearances before the designated Veterans Treatment Court Judge.  It also involves drug and alcohol treatment, random drug testing, support group meetings, educational classes, and community supervision. 

Louisiana’s Veterans Court Statute is R.S. 13:5361.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR VETERANS TREATMENT COURT?

A defendant can only be considered eligible if:

• is a Veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States as defined by R.S. 13:5364(1).

• has an open misdemeanor or felony case in the 21st Judicial District Court or lives in the 21st Judicial District (Livingston, St. Helena, or Tangipahoa Parish) and has their probation transferred to our district and had Veterans Treatment Court as a condition of their probation.

• is willing to voluntarily participate and comply with any recommended treatment.

• does not have a prior felony conviction for an offense defined as a homicide in R.S. 14:29 or as a sex offense in R.S. 15:541, or any pending criminal proceeding alleging the commission of an offense defined as a homicide in R.S. 14:29 or as a sex offense in R.S. 15:541.

• the crime before the court cannot be a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol or any other drug or drugs that resulted in the death of a person.

• the crime before the court is domestic abuse battery as defined in R.S. 14:35.3 or domestic abuse aggravated assault as defined in R.S. 14:37.7, the defendant shall comply with the following additional requirements as conditions of eligibility in the Veterans Treatment Court Program: 1.) Completion of a court-monitored domestic abuse intervention program as defined by R.S. 14:35.3 and 2.) No ownership or possession of a firearm while under the supervision of the Veterans Treatment Court program or court-ordered probation.

• is 18 years of age or older.

• is considered legally competent.

• can meet the Federal Criteria of a Preliminarily Qualified Offender (34 U.S.C. § 10651).

  • Preliminarily Qualified Offender is:

    • An individual accused of an offense who has been determined by the prosecuting attorney, defense attorney, probation or corrections official, judge, and a representative from the relevant mental health agency to not pose a risk of violence to any person in the program or public; and

    • Has not been charged with or convicted of:

1. any sex offense or any offense relating to the sexual exploitation of children.

2. murder or assault with intent to commit murder.

Judge Robert Russell started the nation's first drug treatment court specifically developed for veterans on January 4, 2008, in Buffalo, New York. It was an outgrowth of New York’s other problem-solving court models, particularly the drug treatment and mental health courts. The Buffalo Veterans Treatment Court adopted with slight modifications the essential tenements of the U.S. Department of Justice Publication entitled “Defining Drug Courts: The Key Components” (Jan. 1997). There are key differences between Drug Courts, Mental Health Courts, and Veterans Treatment Courts. These Key Components provide the foundation for the successful operation of a Veterans Treatment Court.

Two distinctive features of Veterans Treatment Courts are the keys to their success: Veteran Mentors and collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other veteran service agencies. Veteran Mentors, comprised of volunteers from the U.S. Armed Forces, share many common life experiences with participants. These common experiences allow veteran mentors to effectively engage participants, act as a resource and guide to navigating the courts, help participants maintain focus on their treatment, assist participants in navigating the challenges of adjusting to a healthy and productive civilian lifestyle, and help participants to graduate from the Veterans Treatment Court program.

Want to become a Volunteer Veteran Mentor?

These are the requirements to become a VOLUNTEER veteran mentor:

• Be a former or current member of the United States Armed Forces or organized militia of the several states and territories, including but not limited to a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, National Guard, Air National Guard, Environmental Science Services Administration, or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or its predecessor, the United States Coast, and Geodetic Survey.

• Agree to follow and abide by all policies and procedures of the Twenty-First Judicial District Court Veterans Treatment Court Program and Mentor Program.

• Not currently on probation for a misdemeanor or felony offense.

• Not have a misdemeanor or felony conviction within the past three (3) years, or it has been at least six (6) months since graduating from the Veterans Treatment Court Program.

• Complete an application, screening, and interview process.

• Submit a DD-214 for review and undergo a criminal background check if required by the court.

• Commit for a minimum of eighteen (18) months to volunteer as a mentor.

• Complete the Mentor orientation program and any additional training that may be required by the program.

• Maintain confidentiality regarding a participant’s case and personal information.

• Have weekly contact with the participant to provide ongoing support and encouragement.

• Be familiar with the warning signs and red flags for suicide or other mental health issues.

If you meet the requirements listed above and are willing to follow them, please complete the application below to apply.