“Veterans Diversion Program” NJ

Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office new “Veterans Diversion Program” 

   The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office now has a “Veterans Diversion Program” (hereinafter referred to as VDP), in accordance with N.J.S.A. 2C:43-22, et seq. Under the VDP, any active and former military service member (hereinafter referred to as a “veteran”) who is charged with 3rd or 4th degree crimes which do not include violence, and who is suffering from a mental condition, may be eligible for diversion to mental health and rehabilitative treatment, rather than face traditional criminal prosecution. (Any exceptions to the requirements for admission will be determined exclusively by the MCPO on a case-by-case basis.) In Middlesex County, the VDP is administered exclusively by the County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO), and involves intensive supervision and monitoring of a qualifying veteran’s treatment and progress by an applicable mental health treatment provider, the Veteran’s Administration (VA), the MCPO, and a volunteer mentor. Veterans who are approved for admission into the program will have to regularly attend counseling and, where applicable, receive mental health and/or substance abuse treatment. These conditions include, but are not limited to, making restitution where applicable, refraining from future criminal activity, refraining from use of alcohol or frequenting locations where alcohol is sold or used, and attendance at required court proceedings. A veteran who successfully completes the terms and conditions of the program (which are memorialized in a court order), has not been the subject of any subsequent criminal charges, and continues to make progress with mental health and/or substance abuse treatment, may have their charges dismissed within 6 months to 2 years, depending on the particular course of treatment and compliance. The Prosecutor (or designee) retains the sole discretion over who is admitted into VDP, the specific terms of the admission, and the duration that the defendant is in the VDP. source: http://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/Gove...Other counties have set up similar programs.