FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Two years after Jefferson County launched the first Veterans Treatment Court in Kentucky, the program will honor its first graduates at a public ceremony in Louisville. Four veterans who have successfully completed the program will take part in the event.
The JCVTC graduation will be Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 1 p.m. EDT in Metro Hall, Mayor’s Gallery, 527 W. Jefferson St., Louisville. The event is open to the public and the media.
Veterans Treatment Court began in Jefferson County in November 2012 and currently has 20 participants. Jefferson District Judge David L. Holton II serves as the JCVTC judge.
Veterans Treatment Court is a specialized court that focuses on the unique needs of military veterans who have issues with substance abuse and mental health. Participants are subject to random drug and alcohol screenings, required to comply with mental health and substance abuse treatment, keep curfews, perform community service, meet with peer mentors and attend court regularly.
The Administrative Office of the Courts operates the JCVTC in conjunction with the Office of the Jefferson Commonwealth’s Attorney, the Office of the Jefferson County Attorney, the Louisville-Jefferson County Public Defender’s Office, the Robley Rex Veterans Administration Medical Center, Seven Counties Services, Jefferson County Drug Court and Morehead State University.
The JCVTC is being funded by a three-year, $350,000 grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Those who will be speaking at the news conference include Chief Justice of Kentucky John D. Minton Jr., Supreme Court Justice Will T. Scott, District Judge Holton, Jefferson Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Wine and Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell.
For more information on VTC programs in Kentucky, visit http://courts.ky.gov/courtprograms/vtc/Pages/default.aspx.
Administrative Office of the Courts The AOC is the operations arm for the state court system and supports the activities of nearly 3,300 court system employees and 403 elected justices, judges and circuit court clerks. As the fiscal agent for the state court system, the AOC executes the Judicial Branch budget.
