Each year military veterans are charged with felony offenses in Kanawha County. Many have medical, mental health, or other challenges including some related to their military service. Veterans charged with felonies often need rehabilitative services only available through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Kanawha County Adult Drug Court has agreed to establish a Veterans Court Track in Kanawha County called the Kanawha County Veterans Treatment Court. The court will work with the VA to divert eligible members from the cycle of arrest, imprisonment, and recidivism into appropriate rehabilitative programs.
The new court track will exist wholly within the Kanawha County Adult Drug Court, and will not require any additional funding. The court will open tomorrow, May 5, 2016 with a ceremony at 3:00 p.m. in Courtroom 4 in the Old County Courthouse in Charleston.
Judge Bailey invites members of the media to learn about this new court and hear from supporters tomorrow during and after the ceremony.