If you are a veteran who has been charged with a crime and suffers from PTSD, traumatic brain injury, drug addiction or mental illness as a result of your service, you may be eligible for the Berks County Veteran’s Treatment Court. The goal of the Berks County Veteran’s Court is to provide veterans with an alternative to incarceration while working on the underlying conditions which have led to the criminal conduct. There are requirements for admission such as honorable discharge and being a combat veteran. Each case is evaluated by the Veteran’s Court team for admission. The Veteran’s Health Administration is also involved in the administration of the Berks County Veteran’s Court. The Veteran’s Court program last 12-22 months and participants move through 4 phases of treatment. Most phases require attendance at bi-weekly Veteran’s Treatment Court meetings. All phases require sobriety, drug testing, attendance at VA appointments and counseling.
There are strict admissions guidelines for Veteran’s Court and strict compliance with the program is required of participants. It’s important that you are represented by an attorney who has experience with the process. Our criminal attorneys have helped many clients gain admission to Veteran’s Court. These clients have been charged with a variety of crimes. We currently have a client in the program who has been charged with a 2nd offense DUI. This client was facing a mandatory 90 day jail sentence. Another client who is currently participating in Veteran’s Court was charged following an incident in which he showed a gun during an altercation. Yet another client and current Veteran’s Court participant was charged with impersonating a public official. All of these clients will receive treatment rather than a jail sentence if they successfully complete the program.
If you think that you may be eligible for the Berks County Veteran’s Treatment Court, contact our criminal attorneys today at 610-372-5128 or email us at [email protected] and we’ll help you start get started.