About

MISSION STATEMENT

The Williamson County Veterans Treatment Court will serve those who willingly
sacrificed for our country at find themselves involved in the Criminal Justice System
by providing needed treatment services under judicial supervision in order to
restore the veteran to their honored status within our community

INTRODUCTION

In September 2015, The Williamson County Veterans Treatment court was established to more effectively address the needs of United States veterans cycling through the criminal justice system. This court represents collaboration between the General Sessions Court of Williamson County, the District Attorney General’s Office, the Public Defender’s Office, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, the State or Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) is made up of an extensive collaboration of dedicated partners, including criminal justice, federal veterans’ agencies and local community veterans’ organizations. The target population includes military veterans who have been charged with criminal offense(s) and who are identified with substance dependency, serious and persistent mental health issues and/or other issues which may be amenable to treatment.

The Williamson County Veterans Treatment Court Program aims to serve veterans and active service members whom suffer from mental illness, traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Military Sexual Trauma (MST), and substance use disorder due to military service, which was a contributing factor in their misdemeanor or felony criminal offense. The Williamson County Veterans Treatment Court aims to achieve positive veteran behavior by providing a holistic integrated set of support services including the following:

•    Diverting veterans from the traditional criminal justice system into an alternative to incarceration program that addresses their specific needs;
•    Improving access to medical, mental health, and substance abuse treatment;
•    Assisting with other debilitating factors such as unemployment and homelessness;
•    Improving long-term mental health recovery and community reintegration through involvement in structured, comprehensive treatment.

Programmatic Goals of the Veterans Treatment Court Program

1.    Promote sobriety, recovery and stability for veterans in need by providing substance abuse and mental health treatment coupled with academic and vocational skill-building services.

2.    Provide early identification of eligible program participants in an effort to compel individuals’ problem recognition and confront denial, while at the same time accelerating the treatment process for eligible offenders by expediting the admission process.

3.    Engage in community education and partnership efforts to develop shared understanding and foster the spirit of commitment and collaboration with the Veterans Administration, treatment providers, volunteer mentors, the criminal justice system and other engaged organizations.

4.    Address the needs of adult, alcohol and substance-abusing veteran offenders by establishing a non-adversarial adult Veterans Treatment court program in Williamson County.

5.    Increase the safety to the public and encourage participants to remain substance free and/or in recovery from mental illness and crime free while reducing the rate of recidivism and eliminating the cost of confinement; therefore, providing a major fiscal relief to the criminal justice system.

6.    Develop and implement a Mentor component to enhance treatment compliance and completion.