Veterans’ Treatment Court in Pasco County, FL
If you served your country in one of the branches of the military including the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, or Navy, then you might be eligible to resolve your case in Veterans’ Treatment Court.
If you are an active duty member or veteran of the armed forces. then talk with your criminal defense attorney about the pros and cons of resolving your case in Veterans’ Treatment Court in Pasco County, FL.
The assistant state attorney working for Bernie McCabe, State Attorney Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida, will make the initial determination about whether resolving the case in veterans’ treatment court is appropriate.
Attorney for Pasco’s Veterans’ Treatment Court
If you are eligible and if you determine it is in your best interest, your criminal defense attorney will help you complete the Veterans’ Treatment Court Application, an Authorization to Release Medical Records or Health Information, and a Waiver of Speedy Trial.
With offices in New Port Richey, FL, across from the West Pasco Judicial Center, we are here to help. During the free consultation, we can discuss the pending charges against you, ways to avoid the typical penalties imposed from those charges, and the best ways to aggressively fight the charges.
Call 727-807-6392 to discuss your case.
Forms for Veterans’ Treatment Court in Pasco County, FL
The waiver of your right to a speedy trial is pursuant to Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure 3.191 and 948.08(2), Florida Statutes. You must agree, stipulate, and acknowledge that you consulted with a criminal defense attorney before knowingly and intelligently waiving the right to a speedy trial.
You must also sign two (2) release forms so that the VA can release records. The forms MUST be signed before this case can be reviewed for program eligibility. Failure to complete these forms by the due date will result in this case being returned for normal prosecution.
Keep in mind that just because you complete the application does not mean that you will be accepted into the program. Until you are accepted into veterans’ treatment you should attend all court hearings until further notice. The completed forms, including the waiver of speedy trial, must be returned to:
VETERANS’ TREATMENT COURT PROGRAM
P. 0. Box 5028
Clearwater, FL 33758
Telephone (727) 464-6221
You must fill out an application that asks the following questions:
Branch of Service:
___ AIR FORCE
___ ARMY
___ COAST GUARD
___ MARINES
___ NAVY
Dates of Service: Beginning: ____ Ending: ___
Are you a combat veteran? ___ YES ___ NO
Dates of Combat Service (if any)
Combat Zone Location: ___
Responsibilities: ___
(Military Occupational Specialty)
Are you a combat veteran? ___ YES ___ NO
Physician’s Name: (if any) ___ VA ___ Private
Facility: (if any)
Psychologist’ s/Psychiatrist’ s Name: (if any) ___ VA ___ Private
Facility: (if any) ___
Current Medications: (if any) ___
History of Drug Abuse ___ YES ___ NO
If yes, which drug(s) History of Alcohol Abuse ___ YES ___ NO
History of PTSD (Please specify reason) ___ YES ___ NO
Reason: ___
History of anxiety/depression ___ YES ___ NO
History of suicide attempts ___ YES ___ NO
Difficulty in Obtaining Counseling ___ YES ___ NO
Difficulties in Obtaining Medical Care ___ YES ___ NO
Associated with Support Groups? ___ NO ___ YES
Name of Group(s) Currently Employed?
Date of last employment: ________________________________
Pasco Veterans’ Court Consent for Disclosure of Confidential Information
The disclosure form requires you to voluntarily consent to the disclosure of my medical, mental health, and substance abuse treatment information to the Veterans Treatment Court Team for use in Veterans Treatment Court, and to any Florida or federal agency that is providing funding for Veterans Treatment Court to the extent necessary to show compliance with any funding requirements.
The Veterans Treatment Court Team includes:
- the Presiding Judge;
- your criminal defense attorney;
- the prosecutor with the State Attorney’s Office;
- the Department of Corrections;
- the misdemeanor probation service provider;
- representatives from mental health and substance abuse treatment programs that partner with Veterans’ Treatment Court;
- representatives from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs;
- court staff; and
- any judge presiding in the Adult Drug Court section.
Veterans Treatment Court is an open proceeding and other Veterans Treatment Court clients, participants, and attendees may be present when the case is addressed. The purpose of, and need for, this disclosure is to inform the Court and all others listed above of my eligibility and acceptability for mental health and substance abuse treatment services and my treatment attendance, prognosis, compliance, and progress in accordance with the monitoring criteria of Veterans Treatment Court.
The recipients of the medical, mental health, and substance abuse treatment information, may re-disclose it only in connection with their official duties. The purpose of any re-disclosure is to inform third parties of the person’s eligibility and acceptability for mental health and substance abuse treatment services and treatment attendance, prognosis, compliance, and progress in accordance with the monitoring criteria of Veterans Treatment Court.
The consent is effective from the date it is signed until the person completes or is terminated from the Veteran’s Treatment Court. As stated in the Code of Federal Regulations, 42 C.F .R. §2.31. §2.35, as a participant in the Veterans Treatment Court, the person has the right to revoke the consent at any time.
Any participant must acknowledge understanding the fact that revocation of consent is not applicable to any disclosure that has already taken place in reliance on the consent. The revocation of the consent for disclosure of confidential information will result in my termination from the Veterans Treatment Court in Pasco County, FL.
Additional Resources
Veterans Treatment Court in the Sixth Judicial Circuit – Visit the Sixth Judicial Circuit to read more about Veterans Treatment Court for felony and misdemeanor criminal cases at the courthouse in Dade City and New Port Richey in Pasco County, FL. Only qualified veterans who are charged with misdemeanors and certain felonies such as a battery, grand theft, burglary, or drug-related charges are eligible for the program. Judge Shawn Crane is assigned to preside over Pasco Veterans Court with the help of the lead Veterans Service Officer (VSO).
This article was last updated on Friday, October 7, 2022.
