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Veterans Enhanced Treatment Court
| Staff Name |
Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vance Peterson |
Judge | 509-477-2964 | |
| Gary Bartole | Judicial Assistant | 509-477-2924 |
[email protected] |
| Tom Squires |
Probation Officer |
509-477-6471 | [email protected] |
| Directory/more info... |
|
Mission
The Mission of the Spokane County Veterans Enhanced Treatment Court is to establish and maintain a coordinated Community Response through collaborations with the Veteran’s Delivery System and the Criminal Justice system.
The Court will provide a means to successfully rehabilitate veterans by diverting them from the conventional criminal justice system and providing them with the tools they need to successfully reintegrate back into society.
The Mission of the Spokane County Veterans Enhanced Treatment Court is to establish and maintain a coordinated Community Response through collaborations with the Veteran’s Delivery System and the Criminal Justice system.
The Court will provide a means to successfully rehabilitate veterans by diverting them from the conventional criminal justice system and providing them with the tools they need to successfully reintegrate back into society.
What is a Veterans Court?
Veterans Treatment Courts are hybrid Drug and Mental Health Courts that use the Drug Court Model to serve veterans struggling with addiction, serious mental illness, and co-occurring disorders. They promote sobriety, recovery, and stability through a coordinated response that involves cooperation and collaboration with the traditional partners found in Drug and Mental Health Courts, with the addition of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care networks, the Veterans Benefits Administration, volunteer veteran mentors, and veterans family support organizations.
Veterans Treatment Courts are hybrid Drug and Mental Health Courts that use the Drug Court Model to serve veterans struggling with addiction, serious mental illness, and co-occurring disorders. They promote sobriety, recovery, and stability through a coordinated response that involves cooperation and collaboration with the traditional partners found in Drug and Mental Health Courts, with the addition of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care networks, the Veterans Benefits Administration, volunteer veteran mentors, and veterans family support organizations.
Who Do We Serve?
We serve former or current members of the United States Armed Forces, Guard or Reserves. As a former member, the Veteran must have been Honorably discharged or discharged “Generally” under honorable conditions.
The Veterans Court may accept individuals with a diagnosis of PTSD, TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) or MST (Military Sexual Trauma) as a result of their military services. The Veterans Court may also accept individuals who are considered “combat” veterans (“combat” veteran is defined in the Department of Veterans Affairs VHA Handbook 1601A.03 Section 3 part (f)) with substance use disorders. Potential candidates with a diagnosis of PTSD, TBI, or MST will be given the highest priority.
We serve former or current members of the United States Armed Forces, Guard or Reserves. As a former member, the Veteran must have been Honorably discharged or discharged “Generally” under honorable conditions.
The Veterans Court may accept individuals with a diagnosis of PTSD, TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) or MST (Military Sexual Trauma) as a result of their military services. The Veterans Court may also accept individuals who are considered “combat” veterans (“combat” veteran is defined in the Department of Veterans Affairs VHA Handbook 1601A.03 Section 3 part (f)) with substance use disorders. Potential candidates with a diagnosis of PTSD, TBI, or MST will be given the highest priority.
Criminal Case Criteria
Only those individuals whose cases are Spokane County misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor are eligible for acceptance into the Veterans court pending a review by the Veterans Court Team, with the exception of sexual and serious violent offenses. The Team consists of the Judge, Prosecutor, Public Defender, Probation Officer, Veterans Court Coordinator, and Veterans Administration staff.
Felony reductions plead in District Court may be referred to the Veterans Court for probation monitoring subject to a staffing review by the Team.
Only those individuals whose cases are Spokane County misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor are eligible for acceptance into the Veterans court pending a review by the Veterans Court Team, with the exception of sexual and serious violent offenses. The Team consists of the Judge, Prosecutor, Public Defender, Probation Officer, Veterans Court Coordinator, and Veterans Administration staff.
Felony reductions plead in District Court may be referred to the Veterans Court for probation monitoring subject to a staffing review by the Team.