NCJ Number
247460
Date Published
August 2013
Length
30 pages
Annotation
This is the manual of procedures for the operation of the Fayette County Veteran's Treatment Court (Pennsylvania), which is a pretrial diversion program for offenders who are veterans diagnosed with a mental illness.
Abstract
The treatment team consists of the Fayette County Veteran's Treatment Court Coordinator, a Veteran Affairs Justice Outreach Specialist (VAJOS), Veterans Affairs, local providers, a representative from the District Attorney's Office, case managers, and the Fayette County Behavioral Health Administration. This team evaluates the appropriateness of the referrals. The referrals are either accepted into the program or are recommended for regular case processing. Offenders who participate in the Veteran's Treatment Court are required to enter a guilty plea for the offense(s) with which they are charged. Once placed in the program, participants will be linked with needed services and are assigned a specialized mental health probation officer, who is responsible for monitoring offender compliance with the court system, and another specialist is responsible for assisting offenders in accessing necessary services and advocacy as needed. After describing the key components of the Veteran's Treatment Court, this manual specifies the eligibility factors; the referral process; the termination policy, including behaviors that can lead to termination; and reconsideration policy regarding persons initially rejected for the program. Other procedures discussed are program length, assessments/treatment, court hearing, medication policy, and drug testing. The three phases of the program are described, followed by a statement of the informant policy, features of the service and treatment plans, and samples of various forms.