Community Corner
Veterans Treatment Court Receives $550K Grant
The Washington County District Attorney's Office said the grant will allow them to expand the treatment program and hire staff.
From The State of Washington:The Washington County DA’s Office is excited to announce that the United States Department of Justice has awarded a $550,000 grant to support the Washington County Veterans Treatment Court (VTC).
In May, 2018, the Washington County DA’s proudly announced the formation of the Washington County Veterans Treatment Court. The VTC, a specialty treatment court designed to the address the needs of military veterans, is the result of a collaborative partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington County Circuit Court, Washington County Community Corrections, and Washington County Veterans Services.
To further our commitment to veterans, the District Attorney’s Office applied for a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). BJA awarded $550,000 to support the VTC for four years beginning on January 1, 2019.
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This money will allow the District Attorney’s Office to hire a VTC Coordinator that will help ensure that the VTC program utilizes national best-practices when working with veterans recovering from addiction issues and managing mental illness. These funds will also allow the VTC program to expand treatment opportunities beyond what the VA is able to offer veterans.
The VTC was designed with the belief that “if we broke them, then we must do what we can to fix them,” by addressing the underlying causes of a veteran’s criminal conduct. We recognize that military service can be traumatic, physically and mentally.
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For veterans involved in the criminal justice system due, at least in part, to traumatic experiences in the military, we seek to give these veterans an opportunity to prove to themselves and their communities that they are more than what their criminal conduct says about their character. A
s always, the District Attorney’s Office is committed to public safety first. However, we hope to balance that mission with providing veterans the tools to succeed and become model citizens.
The Washington County DA’s Office is excited for this opportunity to expand and enhance our new VTC program, to learn more please click here.
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