Veterans Affairs

More veterans court options with conditions

Beginning July 1, 2026, Florida courts can admit eligible defendants to veterans treatment court at any stage of a criminal case. A defendant must have a service-related mental health condition, brain injury, substance use disorder, psychological problem, or have experienced military sexual trauma. The court must find that participation serves justice and benefits the defendant and community. It decides eligibility with a multidisciplinary team; state attorney approval is not required. Defendants must receive notice about the program. The court must consider these factors in order: the offense; defendant and victim circumstances, including victim recommendations; criminal and treatment-court history; available treatment resources; community impact; law enforcement and prosecutor recommendations; restitution owed and likely payment; mitigating circumstances; and other relevant case circumstances. The law also allows placement after conviction for qualifying servicemembers and veterans whose offenses occur on or after July 1, 2026. They must meet the same treatment-court eligibility requirements. The offense must be a third-degree felony under Chapter 810 or another felony not defined as forcible under section 776.08. Courts can make this placement despite the sentencing-score rules in section 921.0024. Defendants must be fully told the program's purpose and agree to enter. Successful completion becomes a required condition of probation or community control. The sentencing court transfers authority over the case to the treatment court while the defendant remains active in the program. That transfer ends when participation ends, the case returns after termination for noncompliance, or the sentence ends. The treatment-court judge hears and resolves probation or community-control violations.