Veterans Court – Chesco, PA

Veterans Court – Chester County, PA (Chesco)

veterans court

U.S. Veterans are often faced with challenges that everyday citizens just can not comprehend. And even though they sometimes may benefit from mental health services, they may turn to other types of self-medication instead, which can lead to more problems, like a criminal arrest.

Because U.S. Vets deserve to be treated with dignity in the face of crisis, most counties in Pennsylvania have created an alternative court for U.S. Vets who are charged with crimes, known as Veterans Treatment Court.

The Chester County Veterans Court was created to admit criminal offenders of both misdemeanors and felony charges when it is believed that admission will protect the public and assist the veteran. Violations of probation and parole will also be considered. Veterans Court is limited only to defendants who served in a branch of the U.S. military.

According to the Chesco Veterans Court website:

Established in 2010, the mission of Chester County’s Veterans Court is to provide treatment, compassion, hope, and legal assistance to combat veterans struggling in the criminal justice system by utilizing a problem-solving approach for processing those cases.

This approach includes collaborative treatment strategies for combat veterans who suffer from the following conditions as a result of having served in a combat theater:

    • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
    • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
    • Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
    • Psychological and/or substance abuse problems  

Are you eligible for the Chesco Veterans Court?

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At The Law Offices of Wana Saadzoi, Esquire LLC, our primary goal is to have your charges dismissed or significantly reduced. 


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How Does Veterans Court Work? 

The Chesco Veterans Court is a voluntary program. Participants spend 6-24 months in a judicially supervised treatment plan, which is developed by a team of court staff, attorneys, veteran health care professionals, veteran peer mentors, as well as drug and alcohol counselors and mental health professionals.

The program offers a pretrial diversion or postconviction track, offering the opportunity to have charges expunged for pretrial diversion or mitigated exposure for postconviction.

The program is extensive. The average length of time for participants in the program is 12 – 24 months. It is a highly structured program.

U.S. vets accepted into the program can expect treatment sessions, scheduled and random alcohol and drug testing, and regular and mandatory court appearances. Participants must complete assigned courses or treatment programs, which are determined by a group of mentors and probation officers to complete the program.

The program is an extensive opportunity to take full advantage of resources, peer mentors, and health care and treatment options. Participants will appear before a judge on a regular basis and receive support from mentors, who are required to be U.S. Veterans.

Participants who qualify and complete the Veterans Treatment Court may have the court consider dismissing or reducing their charges. Determination is on a case-by-case assessment of a prior record and the nature of the offense by the judge(s).

The Chester County Veterans Court is a collaborative effort of several organizations including:

  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
  • Court of Common Pleas;
  • District Attorney’s Office;
  • Public Defender’s Office;
  • Chester County Prison;
  • Department of Drug and Alcohol Services;
  • Department of Mental Health, and;
  • Chester County Probation, Parole, and Pretrial Services Department

The application can be found here: https://chesco.seamlessdocs.com/f/vifu369lrgx

Are you eligible for Veterans Treatment Court? Get a Free Legal Case Evaluation from The Law Offices of Wana Saadzoi, Esquire LLC to Find: 610-566-5956. At The Law Offices of Wana Saadzoi, Esquire LLC, our primary goal is to have your charges dismissed or significantly reduced. 


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Services of the Chesco Veterans Court

Veterans Court Services include:

  • One-on-one judicial supervision;
  • Ready access to Coatesville Veterans Affairs Medical Center and qualifying VA services;
  • Intensive probation supervision;
  • Substance abuse, mental health, family, and other counseling;
  • Random drug and alcohol testing;
  • Medication monitoring and social services;
  • Employment and housing assistance, and;
  • Peer mentoring.

Completion of the Chesco Veterans Court

Participants who meet all requirements and complete the Veterans Court program will be given a certificate of graduation.

Every case is unique, but depending on the sentencing option used by the court, some cases are either dismissed or reduced. Probationers are placed on administrative probation and subject to minimal requirements.


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Eligibility into Veterans Court in Chester County, PA

To be eligible, a person must have served in a branch of the U.S. military and received an Honorable or Other Than Honorable discharge.

Generally, the court accepts non-violent criminal offenses, such as DUI, drug crimes, and small theft crimes. The court will consider other crimes on a case-by-case basis.

General eligibility requirements of the Chestco Veterans Court include:

    • Service in the U.S. Armed Forces (provide a copy of DD214);
    • Charged with a misdemeanor and/or felony offense in Chester County;
    • Diagnosis of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Military Sexual Trauma (MST), psychological and/or substance abuse problems;
    • Honorable or other than honorable discharge, and;
    • Victim consent to case proceeding. 

Crimes excluded by the Chesco Veterans Court include:

    • Mandatory cases unless waived by DA (exception: Driving Under the Influence);
    • Sexual Offenses;
    • Homicide;
    • Robbery with Violence or a Weapon, and;
    • Some felony assaults and burglary offenses. 

Requirements of Chesco Veterans Court

One big stipulation is to agree to not drink any alcohol or take any narcotics, including prescribed narcotics while enrolled in the program. Participants will be drug & alcohol tested randomly throughout the entire Veterans Court Program.

During the course of the program, you also may not possess any weapons, or live where weapons are kept.

You are required to attend all meetings and court appearances and complete all treatments as stipulated by the court.

There is a dress code for attending court appearances and meetings.

Other requirements and program information can be found in the Chesco Veterans Court handbook. (Last updated January 2021 – subject to change.)


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How Can Attorney Saadzoi Help?

Attorney Saadzoi and our team of experienced criminal attorneys honor, appreciate and are grateful for the service of our veterans. We understand that mental health plays a vital role in the choices people make and that everyone deserves a second chance to get back on their feet without worrying about the past.

We work with our clients and listen to all the details of their cases to better understand how we can fight the charges for them – either to press for them to be dismissed completely or push to get your charges significantly reduced.

Attorney Saadzoi has years of experience successfully helping clients get their criminal charges reduced, dismissed, and resolved. We work hard to ensure you understand the legal options available so you know what you are up against – and how to fight your charges to get them reduced or even dropped altogether.

Attorney Saadzoi will do everything possible to get your charges reduced or dismissed altogether. 


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