Cherokee Nation Veterans Treatment Court

Cherokee Nation seeks funding to implement a veterans treatment court (VTC) within the Cherokee Nation jurisdiction under Category 1: Planning and Implementation. This project will support the development and implementation of a pre- adjudication alternative treatment court serving 100 justice-involved Native American veterans with substance use disorders (SUDs) and/or mental health disorders. By addressing the jurisdictional changes post McGirt v. Oklahoma, the VTC will fill the gap created by the lack of treatment courts for Native American veterans. The VTC seeks to address underlying SUDs and mental health disorders, reduce recidivism, and promote community safety. This project will serve a population no longer served through state jurisdictions and treatment courts. There will be no financial cost to participants. The program period is 48 months with the first six months being a planning phase to develop a comprehensive evidence-based program and establish partnerships with community treatment providers. The VTC will conduct screenings and assessments using validated tools and provide evidence-based treatment and recovery support services, including access to all forms of Food and Drug Administration approved medications for SUD, counseling, and behavioral therapy. Length of program participation and number of phases will be determined by VTC during Bureau of Justice Assistance foundational training for program design.

The program will monitor participant progress through judicial supervision, case management, and community supervision; implement incentives and sanctions to encourage compliance; and pay for drug and alcohol monitoring. The program goals include reducing recidivism, high rates of program completion, improvement of participants’ mental health, substance abuse recovery and overall well-being. Additionally, the VTC will establish a robust data collection and evaluation system to track effectiveness and inform future improvements.