22nd Judicial Circuit Veterans Treatment Court Program

The 22nd Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office is requesting $4462,885.50 in funds for the 22nd Judicial Circuit Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) to continue to assist veteran offenders in Covington County.  The Court will be a pre-adjudication program with the intent of reducing criminal offenses among the veteran population, reducing recidivism rates and crime as a whole in Covington County. The Veterans Treatment Court participants will require eligible offenders to undergo intense drug rehabilitation, mental health counseling if necessary, pay restitution and fines, and maintain a drug, alcohol and crime-free lifestyle.  The community is safeguarded by ongoing judicial supervision, while state law is enforced by constructive sanctions and the looming possibility of conviction and imprisonment.      The Court will begin with a maximum capacity of 20 veterans.  The VTC will provide services to an average of ten (10) veterans per year, or fourty (40) over the life of the grant project period. The Court will last a minimum of twelve (12) months. Veterans will be admitted into the program as quickly as possible after their arrest to allow for more efficient treatment.  The target population will include all non-violent offenders who have served in any branch of military service.  Those veterans with a dishonorable discharge will not be eligible.   The 22nd Judicial Circuit Veterans Treatment Court will target all High Risk/High Need, High Risk/Moderate Need individuals. The Court will not accept Low Risk/Low Need veterans. The Court will use the Ohio Risk Assessment System (ORAS) to assess each veteran’s need and criminogenic level.  The Court does not have access to Medially Assisted Treatment (MAT) locally, but will work with Veteran Affirs to offer Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) when necessary.  Most all team members of the applicant jurisdiction have attended training through the Veterans Treatment Court Planning Initiative and visited the Buffalo Veterans Treatment Court (Mentor Court site visit).  The VTC will adhere to the NADCP Adult Drug Court Best Practice Standards by adhering to the 10 Key Components for Veterans Treatment Courts.