Virginia Veterans Docket
March 11, 2023 by Jean Humbrecht
A Virginia Veterans Docket Focuses on Treatment Rather Than Punishment
A Virginia Veterans Docket provides services for veterans facing criminal charges who suffer from alcohol abuse, substance abuse, mental health issues, or any combination of the three. It is estimated that 75% of Veterans suffer from substance abuse and many of those also have co-occurring mental health disorders which often go untreated, including (but not limited to) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
A Veterans Docket in Virginia is an alternative to traditional criminal justice procedures and penalties. The focus of the Veterans Docket is to provide treatment and services for underlying issues which may have contributed to the alleged criminal behavior.
The purpose of the Virginia Veterans Docket is to provide an alternative to incarceration. Upon successful completion, the participant’s charge will be either reduced or even dismissed. The Virginia Veterans Docket focuses on high risk/high needs veterans.
The Virginia Veterans Docket is very intensive. It requires the participant to appear in court every two weeks, submit to random drug tests, and follow-through with an individualized treatment plan. There are veteran peer mentors who are also involved to provide support for the veterans pursuing treatment. Participants will be rewarded for their successes and progress made within the program, but will also be sanctioned for program violations.
There are certain requirements that participants must meet before entering the Veterans Docket, and particpation requires court approval. If someone is interested in participating in the Veterans Docket, that person should contact the individual county in which he or she is charged. For purposes of the Veterans Treatment Docket, a “veteran” is a current or former member of any branch of active duty military, the national guard or the reserves, regardless of whether that individual was deployed or participated in combat. The person must be willing to participate in the program and all treatment.
More Information on Virginia Veterans Docket in Different Counties
There are five courts in Virginia that currently have Veterans Dockets in place: Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Prince William County, the Rappahannock Region, and the City of Norfolk.
Click here for more general information on Veterans Dockets in Virginia.
Click here for more information on the Veterans Docket in Fairfax County.
Click here for more information on the Veterans Docket in Loudoun County.
Click here for more information on the Veterans Docket in Prince William County.
Click here for more information on the Veterans Docket in the Rappahannock Region.
Click here for more information on the Veterans Docket in the City of Norfolk.
Click here for more general information on services for veterans in Virginia provided by the Virginia Department of Veteran Services.
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