VETERANS COURT OF
ORANGE COUNTY
Community Court
Superior Court of California
909 N. Main Street
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Veterans Court began November 18, 2008
BACKGROUND
In January 2002, the Orange County Superior Court
initiated a study on the feasibility of developing a
community court. The community court will focus on
those who have committed quality of life crimes and, by
building partnerships with local criminal justice, County
and community agencies, more effectively respond to
the needs of offenders. As the study progressed, a vision
for a new kind of community court was developed - one
that would seek not only to improve the offender’s quality
of life, but also address more serious issues and more
complicated social problems like substance abuse and
mental illness.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Orange County
Veterans Court is to provide an interagency, collaborative, non-adversarial
treatment strategy for Veterans in the
criminal justice system who suffer from
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD),
psychological or substance abuse
problems as a result of having served in a
combat theater
Veterans Court is a collaborative effort
The Court
Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.)
The Public Defender
The District Attorney
The Probation Department
The Health Care Agency
Many other community partners
The goals of the Veterans Court are to:
Protect the public
Reduce participant contact with the criminal
justice system
Reduce cost associated with criminal case
processing and re-arrest
Introduce participants to an ongoing process of
recovery designed to help them become stable,
employed and substance free while continuing
mental health care through community/peer
counseling groups or the V.A.
Admission Criteria
Cases considered for admission to the
Veterans Court will include both
misdemeanor and felony cases, where the
treatment team believes admission will
protect the public and assist the Veteran.
Length of Treatment
A participant shall not be eligible for
graduation unless he or she has
completed a minimum of 18 month
participation in Veterans Court which
includes 6 month in the mentoring
program.
Program Phases at a Glance
Orientation Phase:
Minimum of 30 days
Phase 1- Treatment
Plan Development:
Minimum of 90 days
Phase 2- Ongoing
Treatment: Minimum
of 90 days
Phase 3Stabilizing/Mentoring:
Minimum of 145 days
Phase 4- Transition to
Graduation: Minimum
of 6 months
Participants in the program are required to
comply with the following:
Report to VA Coordinator & Probation Officer as directed
If applicable, submit to substance abuse testing as
directed
Comply with treatment plan. Including medication(s).
Attend court appearances & appointments as directed
Participate in clean & sober recreation/fellowship
Must be employed or pursuing vocational/educational
goals
Complete volunteer service hours
Participate in the mentoring program
Participants in the program have the following
demographics:
Ages range from 23 to 64
Marital status- Divorced,
Married, Separated & single
with underage & adult children
Combat Era- Operation Iraqi
Freedom, Persian Gulf War, &
the Vietnam War
Military branches- Army,
Marines, & Navy
Types of charges- Arson,
Assault, D.U.I. Possession of
Narcotics, Receiving Stolen
Property, Reckless Driving &
Trespass
Diagnosis- Bipolar,
Depression, PTSD, Traumatic
Brain Injury (TBI ) &
Schizophrenia
Treatment includes, but is not
limited to- Psychiatric/Mental
Health, Substance Abuse
Services include- Employment
assistance, educational,
housing, Social Services,
Social Security benefits, and
V.A. benefits
Veterans Court Team
District Attorney, Wendy Brough – (714) 569-2210,
Wendy.Brough@da.ocgov.com
Probation Officer, Cyr Oca – (714) 569-2094,
Cyr.Oca@prob.ocgov.com
Public Defender, Isabel Apkarian - (714) 569-2039,
Isabel.Apkarian@pubdef.ocgov.com
V.A. Justice Outreach Coordinator, Andrea Serafin (562) 826-5884, Andrea.serafin@va.gov
Collaborative Courts Coordinator, Laura Morfin - (714)
569-2226, Lmorfin@occourts.org