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Dallas County Veterans Treatment Court

Fact sheet ยท Dallas County

Veterans Treatment Court at a glance

$0
cost to the veteran
Thu 2pm
court every week
6 mo
statutory minimum
12-18 mo
average duration

What it is

A specialty court diversion program that offers veterans arrested in Dallas County an alternative to traditional prosecution. It treats the mental health and/or substance abuse issues that caused or affected the offense. Open to those who served in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or their Reserve or Guard branches.

Successful completion means dismissal of the charge(s), and in most cases expunction.

What participants receive

  • Treatment access. VA and community providers for mental health and substance abuse treatment.
  • Court monitoring. Progress is tracked the whole way, with periodic appearances before the judge.
  • Veteran mentors. Qualified veterans court mentors who understand the road.
  • Dismissal and expunction. Completion means dismissal and, where eligible, expunction.
  • No cost to the veteran. Participation, treatment, services and devices are free.

Who can apply

  1. 1.Charge that could or would typically receive a community supervision recommendation from the prosecutor.
  2. 2.Combat service is not required. Other than Honorable discharges are reviewed case by case.
  3. 3.Most case types considered, including misdemeanor and felony DWI, Aggravated Assault and Family Violence.
  4. 4.Prior history is not an automatic bar, but extensive history may lead the State to deny.
  5. 5.No cases involving a death, delivery of a controlled substance, or sexual assault.
  6. 6.A clinical evaluator must find that a military-related mental health or substance abuse issue contributed to the offense.
  7. 7.Expunction requires a sworn affidavit of no earlier Veterans Court expunction. Otherwise dismissal only.

Twelve steps to dismissal

  1. 1Know the timeline. 6 month statutory minimum. Average is 12-18 months.
  2. 2Talk to your attorney. Attorneys may call the VTC Coordinator or VTC Defense Counsel.
  3. 3Submit the application. CDC4, 6th floor, or email [email protected]. Attach the DD-214 (Member-4). Note it if in jail.
  4. 4District Attorney review. Eligibility to apply is checked against the charge and history.
  5. 5ATRS evaluation. Return the evaluator's calls to schedule it.
  6. 6Team staffing. The VTC team reviews the application for admissibility.
  7. 7Decision. The Coordinator emails the attorney. A denied application is never used against the veteran.
  8. 8Defense counsel. VTC Defense Counsel represents accepted veterans; eligible cases are expunged free.
  9. 9First day of court. Treatment plan and contract reviewed; a mentor is assigned.
  10. 10A weekly rhythm. Court Thursdays at 2pm, a weekly officer meeting, prescribed treatment.
  11. 11Judge monitors progress. The judge follows progress throughout treatment.
  12. 12Maintenance, then dismissal. A 90 day maintenance period, then dismissal and, where eligible, expunction.

Court location

Criminal District Court No. 4
Frank Crowley Courts Building, 6th Floor
133 N. Riverfront Blvd., Dallas, TX 75207

VTC Coordinator

[email protected]
(214) 653-5935

VTC Defense Counsel

For attorneys
(972) 336-3694