Mission Statement
The Mission of the Williamson County Veterans Treatment Court (WCVTC) is to enhance public safety and empower veterans to be productive members of the community by providing a judicially supervised, therapeutic Court that ensures accountability and recovery.
Intent and Purpose
The Williamson County Veterans Treatment Court (WCVTC) is designed to provide an alternative to the traditional method of adjudicating. It is led by Judge Laura Barker and supported by a team of professionals from the legal, law enforcement, and treatment communities. The program is designed to facilitate the rehabilitation of veterans accused or convicted of misdemeanor and felony offenses that meet criteria. All participants will have offenses which, in their totality, provide WCVTC at least 12 months of jurisdiction, but could be extended depending upon the treatment needs of each veteran participant.
The Veteran Treatment Court has two tracks available for Veterans and is designed to facilitate the rehabilitation of veterans accused or convicted of misdemeanor and felony offenses that meet criteria. The two tracks available are the Pre-trial Diversion Track and the Probation Track. The Court Program may offer Veterans an opportunity to avoid prosecution and a criminal conviction, if eligible for the Pre-Trial Diversion Track. The track will be determined by reviewing the nature of the arrest and the Veteran will be informed of the track available to them prior to their decision to participate in the Court.
Participants are carefully screened and must meet eligibility criteria. They are required to address their chemical dependency and/or mental health issues, resolve their legal obligations and obtain/maintain employment or schooling. They will also be required to make regular court appearances, meet with licensed probation officers, case management, submit to frequent and random drug testing, and advanced alcohol testing and monitoring equipment. The court will also direct its efforts toward changing offender behavior, addressing transportation and licensing issues, and focusing on the rights of any victims.
The goal of the Veterans Treatment Court is to reduce recidivism of eligible misdemeanor and felony offenses by identifying those individuals who require mental health and/or substance abuse treatment and placing them in an appropriate continuum of treatment.
Eligibility
The Veterans Treatment Court accepts all military branches-including reserves, National Guard and Active Duty Military service members who are charged with a crime in Williamson County and the crime charged is appropriate for the Veterans Treatment Court. The criteria for eligibility include the following:
- You must be at least 18 years of age.
- You have received an honorable or general under honorable conditions discharge. Other discharge conditions are considered on a case by case basis.
- You have received a mental health diagnosis that has materially affected your criminal conduct for which you are being charged OR considering the circumstances of your conduct, personal and social background, and criminal history the WCVTC is likely to achieve the objective of ensuring the public safety through rehabilitation of the veteran in the manner provided by Texas Penal Code, Section 1.02 (1).
Process
- Admissions to the WCVTC is not automatic and assistance with an attorney in preparing your application is recommended, but not required.
- Completed applications, a copy of applicant’s DD214 or Orders, and a Release of Information is submitted to the Program Case Manager and forwarded to the County Attorney’s Office for review to determine applicant’s eligibility based upon criminal history and current charges.
- The Program Case Manager will schedule and meet with Applicant to go over the treatment court requirement.
- The Program Case Manager or treatment provider will meet with Applicant to schedule substance abuse and/or mental health assessment evaluations.
- Applicants who have completed their assessment evaluations will have an individualized treatment care plan developed by the Program Case Manager or treatment provider.
- If program criteria are met and the applicant is accepted into the WCVTC the case is transferred to the Veterans Treatment Court.
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