Veterans Court to offer jail alternative for some

Veterans Court to offer jail alternative for some

By Marga K. Cooley
Associate Editor


Some veterans in northern Santa Barbara County who find themselves on the wrong side of the law as a result of a non-violent, non-serious crime or substance abuse will soon have the option of getting help instead of spending time in jail.

Veterans Treatment Court, a collaborative effort by the District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender, Superior Court, county Probation and Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Services, will debut Wednesday in Department 3 at Santa Maria Superior Court.

An official inaugural ceremony will be held at noon Tuesday at the Veterans Memorial Cultural Center in Santa Maria.

The court will be held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month before Judge Rogelio Flores, and will be evaluated over the course of a year by a UCSB student who is earning her doctorate in psychology.

The student will determine success rates in areas such as reducing clinical symptoms of trauma, severity of addiction, and recidivism.

Amy Lopez, who works with county ADMHS, said a new veterans treatment calendar will be created, and that after a year of showing progress, it may be possible to apply for grant funding to expand and enhance the program.
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