San Francisco’s U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey will participate in a newly formed Veterans Court program that allows former service members treatment to stay out of prison, his office announced Nov. 8.
“We are deeply indebted to the military veterans within the Northern District of California for their service and sacrifice,” Ramsey said in a statement Friday. “We recognize, however, that some veterans struggle and come into contact with the federal criminal justice system.”
Veterans who meet eligibility requirements may be able to qualify for the Veterans Court when convicted of certain crimes.
The court offers dedicated programming as an alternative to prison. It also integrates court supervision and an extensive network of treatment services and community support, Ramsey said.
California’s Veterans Treatment Court program first opened in 2009 in the Orange Superior Court. Since then, 36 counties have offered some form of the program.
Veteran courts work to target the root causes of service members’ criminal behavior, according to the state’s court system. The goal is to resolve criminal cases through treatment and support.
As part of the program, participants meet frequently with a judicial officer, other veterans, treatment providers, mentors, and support teams, according to the state.
The Northern California program offers a four-phased structured approach that includes engagement and assessment of the veteran, fostering stability and accountability, wellness and community connection, and other services.
To participate, the veteran-defendant must have served at least 12 months in the U.S. armed forces, unless they were discharged early due to a service-connected disability. The defendant can also be a reservist or guardsman who served the full period after being called up to active duty.
The defendant cannot be charged with a sex offense or crimes against minors, or involved in removal proceedings connected to immigration.
Participants will have to plead guilty to participate in Veterans Court, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Once a veteran is accepted for the program, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will schedule a meeting with the defendant and his or her counsel to offer a plea agreement.
The veterans will then begin a tailored program that will last between 12 to 24 months.
For veterans who successfully complete all program requirements for low- to moderate-risk defendants, the government will move to dismiss their charges.
For those on a different track for any risk level defendants, called Track II, the government would recommend a sentence that does not involve prison.
Veteran defendants who don’t finish the program will be sentenced in accordance with standard punishments.
