The 14th Judicial District Veterans Treatment Court Expansion

The 14th Judicial District Attorney’s Office (DA’s Office), located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, will use its BJA grant funds to expand its existing Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) to serve more veterans, to offer our veterans a broader array of counseling services, and to enhance our veteran mentor services.  The DA’s Office seeks a Category 2 grant of $457,488 (federal funds) for its VTC Type B. 

    All cases in the VTC are post-adjudication.  The VTC serves male and female defendants with felony charges and diagnosable substance abuse and behavioral health issues who are residents of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, and have current or prior service in any branch of the United States Armed Forces.

    The VTC will increase its current caseload capacity by 30%, and serve 140 veterans over the course of the grant period. A minimum of 18 months is required for participants to complete the program; the maximum time is 36 months; and the average time is 24 months.  The VTC will manage the increased caseload by restructuring and increasing staff capacity (NADCP Best Practices Standards ##VIII & IX; Narrative p. 9). We also will contract with additional third-party treatment providers to offer the veterans a broader array of counseling to more fully address opioid, stimulant and other substance abuse reduction, and reduce the current 4-year recidivism rate from 17% to 15% (NADCP Best Practices Standards V & VI; Narrative p. 9). We will hire a paid Veteran Mentor Coordinator to improve the mentor services and recruit more mentors and referrals.  (NADCP Best Practices Standards II, VIII, & X; Narrative p. 10).  When Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) is necessary for VTC clients, the local treatment providers either are licensed to provide it themselves, or can refer the veteran to local licensed MAT providers. 

    The DA’s Office is not leveraging other federal funding sources for the expansion at this time. The DA’s Office has received a BJA implementation grant for the VTC through September 30, 2021 (Grant #2016-VV-BX-001), and a grant for its DWI Court (Grant #2017-DC-BX-0018).