Lake County – Veteran’s Treatment Court

Lake County Veterans Court Application
Guide for Defendants
Guide for Attorneys and Other Professionals
Mentor Application

The Lake County Veteran’s Treatment Court [LCVTC] is a special division of the Lake County Court system. It is a Court-supervised program for those arrested in Lake County who have a mental illness, substance use disorder, or other mental health condition related to their military service, who need treatment and other services, and who choose to participate in the LCVTC instead of having their case precede through the regular court process. The LCVTC is a problem solving and hybrid court meaning it will handle, felony cases, cases in pre-trial diversion and cases in which sentences have been imposed. There is a particularly high prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Major Depressive Disorder among combat and other veterans. The LCVTC recognizes the unique challenges facing these veterans and help link these veterans to services.

The Mission of the LCVTC is to promote public safety while supporting eligible veterans and their families through a coordinated effort among veteran’s services, community services and the Court to leave no eligible veteran behind. NOTE: This mission is in furtherance of implementing in Lake County the provisions of the T. Patt Maney Veterans’ Treatment Intervention Act passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Florida’s Governor to take effect on July 1, 2012, as Section 394.47891 of the Florida Statutes.

The priority of the LCVTC is public safety. In that regard, the LCVTC seeks to address mental health and/or substance use disorder of the eligible veterans and ensure they do not languish in the Lake County Jail without opportunity for treatment.

A person can only be accepted or placed into the LCVTC as follows:

• The person must be a Eligible Veteran Defendant (EVD);
• The person has the burden of proof to establish their EVD status;
• EVD status may be established by a DD-214 Form;
• VOP cases are eligible for placement into the VTC provided the sentencing judge on the pending VOP case authorizes the transfer of the VOP case into the LCVTC;
• Cases are eligible for admission into the LCVTC by a motion pursuant to Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.800( c ) [“Reduction and Modification of Sentences”] upon agreement of the sentencing judge, the State Attorney’s Office (SAO) and the EVD;
• Veterans court serves justice-involved veterans as defined in Florida Statute 394.47891; a veteran who is discharged or released under any condition; service members as defined in Florida Statute 250.01; an individual who is a current or former United States Department of Defense Contractor; or an individual who is a current or former military member of a foreign allied country with a military-related substance use disorder, mental disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and military sexual trauma (MST), and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI).