Veterans Treatment Court: Treatment & Alternatives to Prison

If you’re a Veteran who is dealing with legal issues due to addiction, participating in an addiction treatment program may be a viable alternative to incarceration. Some states offer Felony Veterans Treatment Courts (VTCs), specialized Veterans Treatment Court programs designed to support military Veterans who are living with mental health conditions, including substance use disorder.¹ Understanding what a veterans treatment court is, whether it’s available in your state, and how it may help one navigate the criminal justice system can be important for finding treatment.  

What Is Treatment Court?

Treatment courts work to help participants recover from addiction to help reduce further criminal activity.² Veterans Treatment Court programs serve as an alternative to serving time in jail or prison. In addition to helping offenders by providing addiction treatment, drug courts also work to relieve the burden of non-violent offenders on the prison system, while also offering rehabilitative treatment and education to help offenders move forward in life.² Treatment courts will often require their participants to maintain abstinence during their participation in the programs.³ 

How Does Veterans Treatment Court Work?

Veterans Treatment Courts take a unique approach to helping Veterans who have been charged with crimes related to addiction. Veterans court programs are typically led by a team that includes a judge, treatment provider, probation officer, law enforcement official, court coordinator, prosecutor, and defense counsel. Together, the team works to provide drug court participants with a balance of support, authority, supervision, and encouragement to support long-term sobriety. 

Participants in Veterans Treatment Court programs require intense supervision, including frequent court appearances and drug testing. This allows supervisors to impose sanctions, provide support, and/or remove non-compliant participants from the program. In place of criminal penalties, participants agree to work through a court-sanctioned treatment process.³  

Who Is Eligible for Treatment Court?

Veterans treatment court eligibility requirements can differ from state to state. Typically, participants must have served or currently be serving in a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. The charges against the participant must be non-violent in nature. Most participants have felony charges, but Veterans with misdemeanor charges may be accepted to Veterans Treatment Court programs on a case-by-case basis. Veterans who have charges related to drug dealing are typically not eligible for alternatives to incarceration programs. Participants must be willing to actively work their prescribed program while abiding by program rules and regulations.⁴ 

Benefits of Veterans Treatment Court vs. Traditional Sentencing

Unfortunately, many military Veterans have a history of trauma and/or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to experiences during their military service. Some Veterans turn to drugs and/or alcohol to cope with symptoms related to these conditions.⁵ Veterans Treatment Court offers non-violent offenders the chance to get the help that they need while also offering them an alternative to traditional sentencing. Participants get a high level of support and structure through their court team and are held accountable through mandatory treatment attendance and regular drug testing, with the consequence of transitioning back to a traditional sentencing system if they commit a Veterans Court violation.⁶ This can help participants gain and maintain sobriety, versus traditional sentencing, which may lead to Veterans returning to substance misuse after their time is served. 

How Effective Are Veterans Treatment Courts?

Research shows that Veterans Treatment Court programs aren’t just effective for helping Veterans with substance use disorder get sober—program participants are also more likely to receive VA benefits and gain their own housing.⁷ Statistics also show that participants who completed full Veterans Treatment Court programs had lower recidivism rates than traditional court participants.⁷ Program participants were also more likely than traditional court participants to show positive growth in social connectedness, overall functioning, and mental health.⁷ 

Start Your Recovery Today

While treatment courts can help to open alternatives to incarceration for Veterans, it’s still important to begin the process of finding a rehab program that can meet your needs. Reaching out to your local Veterans Affairs office or talking with a VA community care representative can help you begin the process of finding a treatment center to support your sobriety. They can also help verify any veterans insurance benefits you may have.

We also encourage you to use the recovery.org treatment directory to find rehab programs that support the unique needs of veterans around the country. At American Addiction Centers, our admissions specialists are here to help you find the right treatment center for your needs. Reach out to our team today at to verify your insurance and learn more.