The new west georgia judicial circuit seeks to create a pre-adjudication, post-adjudication, and violation of probation court that serves high-risk, high-need justice-involved veterans who have been…

The new west georgia judicial circuit seeks to create a pre-adjudication, post-adjudication, and violation of probation court that serves high-risk, high-need justice-involved veterans who have been charged with a felony and/or misdemeanor in rural carroll, heard, harlson, and polk counties. The west georgia veterans treatment court will prioritize veterans who have a primary substance use disorder and secondary mental health and/or trauma disorder and will immediately identify veterans upon jail booking through use of the veterans RE-entry search services system to ensure a swift entry into the 18-month program. Veterans in this program will receive evidence-based treatment through a clinical provider and will be connected to community resources to prevent recidivism post-graduation. This treatment court will fill existing gaps in haralson and polk counties, which do not have treatment courts, and will allow veterans from carroll and heard counties, currently part of the coweta judicial circuit, to continue veterans court participation once the circuit splits in january 2025. Funding is requested under funding category 1 (planning and implementation).