The Travis County Veterans Court
In November 2007, Constable Canchola began to document local examples of national trends around the difficulties veterans experience when returning to civilian life. A significant number of veterans were booked into the Travis County jail every month, many of whom were repeat offenders with alcohol and substance abuse issues.
The constable convened a meeting of local, state and federal agencies, as well as organizations that provide services to veterans. The Veterans Intervention Project emerged from that meeting and set out to assess the extent of challenges facing veterans and recommend improvements.
The VIP Committee created the Travis County Veterans Court to provide veterans convicted of misdemeanor non-violent offenses with rehabilitation opportunities as an alternative to incarceration.
- Report of Veterans Arrested and Booked into the Travis County Jail
- Presentation to the Travis County Commissioners Court
Veterans Court in the news
- Constables win Best Practices Achievement Award
- New court seeks to help veterans avoid jail
Austin American Statesman - 12/17/2010 - Veterans Court program comes to Travis County
Texas Veterans Commission - 12/10/2010 - Special court for veterans first of its kind in county
video clip: Video The Daily Texan - 12/7/2010 - Travis County "Veterans Court" expected to get final approval
KLBJ News Radio - 6/15/2010 - Fighting Battle Scars
Texas Association of Counties - May/June 2010 - And Now Veterans: 'We Owe Them'
Austin Chronicle - 3/26/2010 - Travis County looking to set up court for veterans
Austin American Statesman - 12/14/2009 - Travis County proposes special court for veterans
KVUE News - 12/14/2009 - Officials say report shows veterans' arrests too high
News 8 Austin - - 12/14/2009
