U.S. military veterans are trained to selflessly serve their country, respect
authority, and even perform missions and tasks in warzones and other hostile
environments. Unfortunately, the rigors and stress of military service
can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse issues,
and other mental health problems that cause veterans to end up in the
criminal justice system.
In 2008, the first Veterans Court in the nation was implemented in Buffalo,
New York, to address these issues. Since then, more programs have been
developed throughout the U.S., including many in Florida.
On November 2013, Volusia County debuted is Veterans Court to help veterans
resolve legal matters and obtain services (e.g. medical care, housing
assistance, counseling, mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment,
and vocational training) they are entitled to by law. The truth is that
many veterans are unaware of these programs or don’t believe they
are eligible.
The following are the eligibility requirements for the Volusia County Veterans
Court Program:
- You are charged with a misdemeanor or non-violent felony
- You have served in the U.S. military or were discharged
The court-supervised program is coupled with intensive treatment and supervision.
Once a person completes the program, his/her charges will either be dismissed
or reduced.
Completion of Veterans Court has resulted in proper treatment for mental
health issues and a decrease in recidivism rates.
Other pretrial services in Volusia County include:
For more information about Veterans Court in Volusia County,
contact the Law Offices of Robert Stepniak today and request a free consultation.