Veterans Treatment Court

VTC mobilizes community resources and intensive treatment throughout the criminal justice process with the goal of enhancing public safety and reducing veteran recidivism. By stabilizing psychosocial and ecological needs of veterans that contribute to criminal behaviors, participants establish a prosocial pattern of engagement with the community.

Douglas County Veterans Treatment Court is funded through 2029 by a grant from the Department of Justice and is connected to a larger statewide effort to increase access to alterative courts across Kansas. Grant funds will provide staffing, material, training, and some treatment costs for participants. Additional grant funds will be used by the Kansas Department of Judicial Administration to provide oversite and independent program review of Kansas treatment courts, ensuring that courts maintain best practices and have a measurable impact on participants.

Veterans will be considered regardless of service and discharge type, however veterans residing outside of Douglas County must qualify for VA health services and have reliable transportation to court.

The Douglas County Veterans Treatment Court is a post plea court, with an expected duration of 15-18 months. Participants who withdraw from the VTC or are terminated will have their case returned to the division where their case originated and resume sentencing. Upon completion of the VTC requirements, the participant will receive expungement.

Application and Acceptance Process Guidelines

VTC Participant Handbook

The Veterans Treatment Court has a starting capacity of ten veterans and is accepting applications. Please include DD214 documents if the veteran has them. Applications can be submitted by community partners, defense attorneys, defendants, and any other involved person.

You can submit the form using the email addresses listed on the form.

The Veterans Treatment Court will hold the first court session on October 29th, 2025.

The treatment court team will meet from 11:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m., and court will proceed at 12:00 p.m. Subsequent court sessions will be scheduled four times each month from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Interested in Mentoring a Participant?

Mentors are volunteer veterans who provide support to veteran participants both inside and outside of the courtroom. Mentors walk beside participants for the duration of the court when possible. Douglas County Veterans Treatment Court will assign mentors starting in early 2026. Community members interested in volunteering should reach out to the VTC Coordinator.