Anyone hear of Veterans Court? What is it?

I wish it would have existed after I got out! It started 2 months after I got done with the courts!

I am currently in VTC here in Tulsa. As many have posted, VTC is an alternative to incarceration. Basically, one would have to plead guilty to whatever her or his initial charge. By doing this, you agree to possibly wearing a GPS and/or SCRAM alcohol monitoring device (I wore both for about 7 mos....roughly $300/mo for EACH), taking anywhere from 1-6 urinalyses PER WEEK...roughly $15 per test, seeing a supervisor monthly ($40), therapy as needed, & some type of AA or NA numerous times per week. If you fail any of these (& the court deems you unworthy of the program), the judge will sentence you to whatever you agreed to upon pleading into the program. Like everything else, it has its problems, but overall it is a blessing for the men and women who have served our country..

Yes, often local VA hospitals will sponsor a stand down for homeless vets or vets with issues. At a stand down it is not uncommon to have medical treatment, addictions services, county services, employment services, and legal help. Often Judges from various counties will come and hold a Veterans Court to hear what the veteran has been doing and give them a chance to clear things like outstanding tickets, low grade warrants and things of that nature. They may waive or reduce court fee's and fines depending on the offense. Working for the VA I have been to couple of stand downs and seen a lot of patients resolve issues that kept them from getting jobs, or places to live taken care of.

It is part of the legal system that takes into cocideration issues amongst combat veterans.

Ohio had a few initiated back in 2009... not sure if they are still operating.
http://www.resurrectinglives.org may have a lot more info on their website!

Yep, they are considered "therapeutic" courts and the judges take into consideration the issues that affect veterans, and can prescribe other alternatives besides just throwing the book at them.

If you don't like psychologists or can't honestly say that you're going to be able to give clean drug tests for the duration of your "stint" then I would highly advise against vetrans court, it could take something as small as a DUI an escalated and prolong punishment or "supervision" for an eternity. I wouldn't even consider it if there wasn't a guarantee of expungement, sometimes during the time is easier.

There is Veteran's Court in Nebraska, but compared to the other state's Veteran's Courts it is pretty useless.
It completely avoids to assist soldiers convicted of violent crimes (neither misdemeanors nor felony). and DUI/DWIs, which are basically the "bread and butter" of Veteran's main committed crimes after the service besides Substance Abuse. Even that rarely gets looked at and passed down to the Drug Court.