San Francisco US Attorney’s Office to Participate in Veterans Court Program.
The new program aims to provide treatment and alternative sentencing options for veterans involved in criminal activities instead of incarceration.
San Francisco’s U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey will be part of a newly established Veterans Court program that offers former service members the opportunity to receive treatment and avoid imprisonment, as announced by his office on Nov. 8.
Ramsey expressed gratitude towards the military veterans in the Northern District of California for their service and acknowledged that some veterans face challenges that lead them to the federal criminal justice system.
Eligible veterans convicted of specific crimes can potentially qualify for the Veterans Court program.
The program provides specialized programming as a substitute for incarceration, combining court supervision with a wide array of treatment services and community support, according to Ramsey.
California’s initial Veterans Treatment Court program was introduced in 2009 in the Orange Superior Court and has since been adopted in 36 counties across the state.
Veteran courts focus on addressing the underlying causes of veterans’ criminal behavior, with the goal of resolving cases through treatment and support.
Participants engage regularly with a judicial officer, fellow veterans, treatment providers, mentors, and support teams as part of the program.
The Northern California program follows a structured four-phase model that includes veteran engagement and assessment, promoting stability and accountability, enhancing wellness and community connections, among other services.
To be eligible, veteran-defendants must have served at least 12 months in the U.S. armed forces, except if they were discharged early due to a service-related disability. Participants can also include reservists or guardsmen who completed their full service period after being called up for active duty.
Participants in the Veterans Court program are required to plead guilty to their charges, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California, Ismail J. Ramsey (right) speaks to reporters during a press conference in San Francisco, Calif., on Aug. 17, 2023. Ramsey announced Nov. 8, 2024, his office would participate in a newly formed Veterans Court in Northern California.
Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo
Once accepted into the program, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will arrange a meeting with the defendant and their counsel to present a plea agreement.
Veterans will then embark on a customized program lasting between 12 to 24 months.
For veterans who successfully fulfill all program requirements for low- to moderate-risk defendants, the government will seek to dismiss their charges.
For those categorized under Track II, consisting of defendants with different risk levels, the government will propose sentences that do not include imprisonment.
Veteran defendants who fail to complete the program will face standard sentencing procedures.
