The Mission:
To assist those Veterans with felony and misdemeanor offenses through the cooperative use of support, treatment and accountability in an effort to reduce recidivism, and to promote a productive lifestyle that leaves no Veteran behind.
To qualify for the Veterans Court a defendant MUST:
- Be charged with a criminal offense in Brazoria County;
- Be a US Veteran, on active duty, or in the Reserves, or National Guard or State Guard;
- Be active duty or have an honorable discharge, or general discharge under honorable conditions (if separated or retired.);
- Be a resident of Brazoria County or a county adjoining Brazoria County;
- Suffer from a brain injury, illegal substance/alcohol addiction, mental illness or mental disorder or be a victim of military sexual trauma that occurred or resulted from military service. OR
- Be a defendant whose participation in the treatment court program is likely to achieve the objective of ensuring public safety through rehabilitation of the veteran.
All applications are reviewed on a case by case basis and not all criminal charges are eligible for Veterans Court. Many factors, including prior convictions, are considered.
The Veterans Court program is voluntary and involves at least fourteen (14) months of treatment.
There is a standard program fee of up to $750.00. Collection of fees can change depending on the participant’s financial situation.
Compliance with probation conditions and treatment conditions are mandatory. The staffing team determines whether or not an applicant is tentatively eligible. The Department of Veterans Affairs examines the defendant and provides information for further assessment. The presiding judge of the trial court makes the final determination on whether or not an applicant is able to participate in Veterans Court.
Veterans participating in the court are given access to appointed defense counsel for the duration of the proceedings.
