Noteboom The Law Firm

Veteran’s Court No Slap On The Wrist

April 2, 2010 - The Orange County Veterans Court does not serve as a slap on the wrist for veterans who find themselves in legal trouble. As part of their guilty plea to the court, veterans must perform certain tasks.

For example, veteran participants must continually take drug and alcohol tests which must return a negative result if the veteran is to remain in the program. They must also attend various activities as well as make regular meetings with VA program coordinators and court ordered probation officers. Finally, the veterans must either attend school, look for work, or be actively employed.

The 18-month program includes 4 phases:

• Veterans enter a guilty plea to the court;
• Veterans receive their treatment plan;
• Veterans engage in ongoing treatment; and
• Veterans establish a mentor and graduate.

 The Orange County Veterans Court handles misdemeanors and a limited amount of felonies. Every veteran chosen for participation will be placed on probation. There are some cases the court will not handle, and others require some research to determine if they will be accepted. The court will not automatically accept participants based solely on being a veteran.

Two absolute requirements for participation in the program are: 

• Veterans must have served in combat; and
• Veterans must live in Orange county.

 The Orange County Veterans Court has not graduated any veterans yet. As it stands, the first class of veterans will finish at the end of April. Based on other, similar courts, veterans who graduate these programs do very well outside of the court system.

For the cases the court does handle, putting veterans in jail will not help their problems. Instead, the veterans are taught coping mechanisms. Past veteran courts have shown much success and every indicator shows this court will be just as successful.