Veterans Treatment Court
The Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) is a specialty court for justice-involved veterans who are charged with criminal offenses in Leavenworth County District Court. The primary objective of VTC is to promote public safety by providing an inter-agency, collaborative, non-adversarial treatment strategy to veterans involved with the criminal justice system and who suffer from mental health and/or substance abuse issues related to their service in our armed forces.
VTC proceedings are held on the first and third Thursdays of each month in Courtroom #2 in the Leavenworth Justice Center, 601 S. Third Street. Hearings begin at 2 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.
VTC is a voluntary program. Veterans charged with either felony or misdemeanor offenses are eligible to participate, subject to limitations. The following offenses are excluded from VTC participation: Off-grid crimes, felony sex crimes, offenses involving serious bodily harm or death, and offenses requiring interstate compact supervision. Registered sex offenders are also ineligible for the program.
Interested veterans should contact the District Court Services Office to complete an application and a risk/needs assessment. Average program length will range from 12 to 18 months depending on a veteran's individual needs.
Volunteer Veteran Peer Mentors are assigned to participants. Mentors act as role models and advocates. Participants are required to meet with their assigned Mentors as specified. The mentors engage, encourage, and empower the participants to be successful.
A participating veteran's treatment information is protected consistent with state and federal statutes and regulations. All participants are required to sign a release of information to permit the VA Medical Center and other treatment providers to provide progress reports to the Court during the veteran's involvement in VTC.
Upon a participating veteran's satisfactory completion of all VTC requirements, the veteran will attend a courtroom graduation ceremony after which charges will be officially dismissed or expunged.
Any person interested in receiving more information about the VTC, or in becoming a mentor, is invited to contact the VTC Coordinator at (913) 684-0710. Additional resources are available at the following links:
VTC Application Form (for prospective participants)
VTC Participant Handbook
VTC Mentor Application Form
VTC Mentor Handbook
The District Court formally opened the VTC with an opening ceremony on September 5, 2023, in Courtroom #1. U.S. Senator Jerry Moran served as keynote speaker (below photo). 
