About Us

This project is funded by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

1. Promote sobriety, recovery, and stability for veterans in need by providing substance abuse and mental health treatment coupled with and/or academic and vocational skill-building services.
2. Provide early identification of eligible program participants in an effort to compel individuals’ problem recognition and confront denial, while at the same time accelerating the treatment process for eligible offenders by expediting the admission process.

The mission of the Veterans Court is to have a coordinated community response through collaboration with the veterans’ service delivery system and the criminal justice system.  The program provides a means to successfully habilitate veterans by diverting them from the traditional criminal justice system and providing them with the tools needed to lead a productive and law abiding life.

Program Description

Shelby County Veterans Court was the first court in Tennessee to launch a Veterans Court.   The program provides a means to divert eligible veteran participants from the traditional criminal justice system and provide them support and rehabilitation through comprehensive substance abuse and/or mental health treatment; education; vocational programs; and community resource referrals for housing, childcare, and transportation, all while being judicially monitored.