Cobb County Veterans Accountability and Treatment Court (VATC) seeks to divert eligible veteran defendants with substance dependency and/or mental illness that are charged with criminal offenses, to a specialized criminal court. The court substitutes a treatment problem solving model for traditional court processing.
The veterans voluntarily participate in a judicially supervised treatment plan that a team of court staff, veteran health care professionals, veteran peer mentors, and health care professionals develop with the veteran. At regular status hearings, treatment plans and other conditions are periodically reviewed for appropriateness, incentives are offered to reward adherence to court conditions, and sanctions for non-adherence are handed down.
Program Description
Many veterans are known to have a warrior’s mentality and often do not address their treatment needs for physical and psychological health care. Often those who are referred to the Veterans Accountability and Treatment Court (VTC) are homeless, helpless, in despair, suffering from alcohol or drug addiction, and others have serious mental illnesses.
Their lives have been spiraling out of control. Through this program, the veteran is offered the opportunity to regain stability in their lives, employment for the employable, housing for the homeless, and to have their families strengthened.
Our mission is to successfully rehabilitate veterans by diverting them from the traditional criminal justice system, and providing them with the tools they need to lead a productive and law-abiding lifestyle.
Our goal is to increase public safety by reducing recidivism; provide better mental health, alcohol and drug treatment through the VA; turn tax burdens into tax payers; and provide intensive case management and structure to the veteran participants.
Judge Robert Leonard
Judge Robert Leonard presides over the Veterans Accountability and Treatment Court in Cobb Superior Court.
District Attorney Flynn Broady
Flynn Broady serves as the District Attorney for the Cobb County Judicial Circuit. For more information, or an application for Veterans Court, contact the District Attorney’s Director of Accountability Courts at (770) 528-3080 or visit cobbda.com.
Sheriff Craig Owens
Sheriff Craig Owens is an avid supporter of Cobb Veterans Court and is committed to the success of participants in the program. For more information visit cobbsheriff.org.
Program Structure
There are 5 phases to the program with varying degrees of treatment, supervision and drug screening. All participants will be expected to be randomly drug screened at least 1-2 times per week. Each veteran is financially responsible for a portion of his or her treatment at $25.00 per week.
The program is a minimum of 18 months and maintains the following time frame for treatment:
- Phase 1: Minimum of 2 months
- Phase 2: Minimum of 4 months
- Phase 3: Minimum of 5 months
- Phase 4: Minimum of 6 months
- Phase 5: Minimum of 1 month
Each participant will be required to attend court sessions as follows:
Phase | Court Schedule |
---|---|
1 | Weekly |
2 | Weekly |
3 | 1st and 3rd Friday of the month |
4 | 2nd and 4th Friday of the month |
5 | 2nd Friday of the month |
Participant Forms
Veterans Court Application and Participant Information:
Referral Forms
Short Referral Form - Attorneys Only
Short Referral Form - Personal/Non Attorneys
Forms:
VA Information:
https://www.va.gov/homeless/dchv.asp
Veteran Mentor Program
An essential part of the VTC is the addition of volunteer veteran mentors as part of the support team that encourages, guides and motivates mentees to complete the 18 month treatment program for physical, psychological and substance abuse conditions stemming from their military service.
A properly trained and engaged veteran mentor will develop an active and supportive relationship with the mentee and will increase the mentees chances of recovery.
Program Details
Mentor Mission
Cobb County Veteran Mentor Program ensures every participating veteran in VTC has a fellow veteran acting as a mentor, advocate and ally through the 18 month long program. The mentor will provide peer-to-peer support to assist the veteran mentee with adjustment challenges and support the mentee in navigating through the VTC program.
Become a Mentor
Mentor Application Requirements
- Honorably discharged veteran of the US Military, National Guard, whether Active Duty or Reservist
- Complete volunteer mentor application
- Provide a copy of your DD-214
- Have no felony convictions
- Pass a criminal background check
- Attend two court sessions prior to receiving your veteran mentee
Mail the application and DD-214 to the following address:
Cobb County Veterans Accountability and Treatment Court
ATTN: Judge Robert Leonard
Cobb Superior Court
70 Haynes Street
Marietta, Georgia 30090
Mentor Coordinator contact information:
Ernie Hines
(404) 293-2949
jarhd@aol.com
Contact Us
For any questions or concerns, please contact the Veterans Treatment Court office.
Katelyn Parker, Veterans Treatment Court Coordinator
(770) 528-7988
(770) 528-8588 (Fax)
katelyn.parker@cobbcounty.org
Media Coverage
- "New court for veterans helps meet 'an obligation to help'"
The Marietta Daily Journal - "Judge: Veterans Court 'incredibly rewarding'"
The Marietta Daily Journal - "Veterans Court to provide alternative to jail time"
The Marietta Daily Journal - "Cobb County Veterans Court Judge visits Atlanta VA Homeless Program"
The Fulton Daily Report - "Georgia Chief Justice visits Veterans Court"
The Fulton Daily Report - "Veterans Court celebrates one-year anniversary"
The Marietta Daily Journal - "Veterans Court honors its first graduates"
The Marietta Daily Journal
Bravo Victor Fund
The Veterans Treatment Court is a way to assist our veterans in rehabilitation by diverting them from the traditional criminal justice system and providing them with the tools they need to lead a productive and law-abiding lifestyle.
From time to time, some of these veterans have need for emergency funds to pay for such things as rent, utilities, travel, or similar emergency expenses. Many do not have the necessary finances to pay these expenses, especially as they begin this program.
Our 501(c)(3) Bravo Victor Fund Ltd. organization has been established as a means to provide the necessary funds to cover these emergency needs and help our veterans stay the course to successfully complete the program.