Veterans Treatment Courts
Veterans treatment courts target the root causes of veterans' criminal behavior. The goal of these courts is to resolve criminal cases through treatment and support. In these courts, veterans take part in a program tailored to address their needs. As part of the program, participants meet frequently with a judicial officer, other veterans, treatment providers, mentors, and support teams.
Disclaimer: This webpage is for informational purposes only. It does not give legal advice, discuss individual cases, or provide referrals to specific lawyers and VTC programs.
Eligibility Requirements
Are You Eligible for Veterans Treatment Court?
Important: Having a case moved to a VTC must usually be done through a court order from the judge in the case, and not by contacting the VTC directly. If you are a veteran and have a criminal case, please consult with your attorney to find out whether you can participate in a VTC.
VTCs accept all military branches – including reserves and the National Guard. Eligibility requirements vary by county, but most VTCs accept certain types of felony or misdemeanor cases and require participants to:
- Have served in the military,
- Plead guilty in a criminal case,
- Be experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), Military Sexual Trauma (MST), substance or other diagnosed disorders, and
- Agree to participate in a 15 - 18-month program.
Veterans Treatment Courts in California
Important: This section is intended to assist you in determining whether your county has a VTC. California currently has VTCs in the counties listed below with more under consideration/development.
| County | Location | Contact |
|---|---|---|
|
Alameda |
Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse, Dept. 107 |
Gavin O'Neill |
|
Butte |
Butte County Courthouse |
|
|
Calaveras |
County Veteran Services |
|
|
Contra Costa |
Contra Costa Superior Court |
|
| Del Norte | Del Norte County Courthouse 450 H Street Crescent City, CA 95531 |
|
|
El Dorado |
495 Main Street Placerville, California 95667 |
Shana Sams |
| El Dorado |
1354 Johnson Boulevard |
Yanira Gonzalez |
| Fresno |
1100 Van Ness Avenue |
|
| Kings |
460 Kings County Drive, Suite 101 |
|
| Lake |
255 N. Forbes Street |
|
|
Los Angeles |
Antonovich Antelope Valley Courthouse |
|
|
Los Angeles |
Compton Courthouse, Dept. 5 200 W Compton Boulevard Compton, CA 90220 |
|
|
Los Angeles |
Veteran Administration Regional Building, Room 116 |
|
|
Los Angeles |
Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center |
|
|
Los Angeles |
Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse |
|
|
Madera |
||
| Merced | ||
|
Monterey |
240 Church Street |
Nona Medina |
| Orange |
909 N Main Street |
Kim Parsons |
| Placer |
Santucci Justice Center Courthouse, Dept. 33 |
Dzenana Tiric |
| Riverside |
4100 Main Street |
Travis Trapp |
| Sacramento |
Gordon D. Schaber Sacramento County Courthouse, Dept. 9 |
Yvette Woolfolk |
| San Bernardino |
247 W 3rd Street |
|
| San Diego |
New Central Courthouse, Dept. 34 |
Magdalena Daszczuk |
| San Francisco | 575 Polk Street San Francisco, CA 94102 |
Allyson West |
| San Joaquin |
222 E Weber Avenue |
Virginia Wimmer |
|
San Luis Obispo |
1055 Monterey Street |
Rosana Ortiz |
| San Mateo |
Location 1: Location 2: |
Michael Scott Peyton |
| Santa Barbara |
Location 1: Location 2: Location 3: |
Amy Lopez |
| Santa Clara |
Family Justice Center |
Toni Bowels |
| Santa Cruz |
Santa Cruz Courthouse, Dept 7 |
Katherine Mayeda |
| Solano |
Solano County Hall of Justice |
Cynthia Garcia |
|
Sonoma |
||
| Stanislaus |
Main Courthouse |
Yukari Williams |
| Tulare |
221 South Mooney Boulevard, Room 206 |
Curt Summers |
| Ventura |
Ventura Superior Court, Dept 37 |
Jill Barrios |
Other Resources for Justice-Involved Veterans
Important: This section is intended to assist you in finding a County Veteran Service Office (CVSO) where a VTC does not exist.
If your county does not have a VTC, but you are a veteran, you may wish to talk to your CVSO to see whether you are eligible for other services. Veterans may be eligible for certain rights or protections even in a non-VTC court, ask your attorney what protections may apply to you, potentially including:
- Notification of Military Status Form: Form MIL-100. Lets the court know if you were in the armed services or reserves. You may have certain rights or protections.
- California Penal Code section 1170.9 details protections for veterans, including special considerations for veterans in court and Veterans Treatment Court eligibility requirements
- Petition for Dismissal (Military Personnel) (Form CR-183) can be used to ask the court to dismiss your case if you successfully complete your Veterans Treatment Court requirements.
The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) has information and resources for Incarcerated Veterans.
The organizations below have further resources dedicated to providing veterans with legal services:
General Resources for Veterans
The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) has information on veteran healthcare, housing, education, employment, and benefits.
The links below connect veterans with support, services, and further information: