The judges of the Ventura Superior Court have established a Veterans Court that began hearing cases involving veterans of the U.S. military as a pilot project in November 2010.

The Veterans Court is a coordinated effort of the Ventura Superior Court, Department of Veterans Affairs and Ventura County district attorney, public defender and probation agency offices.

Under the California Penal Code, defendants eligible for this court are U.S. military veterans who would otherwise be sentenced to county jail or state prison and who committed a criminal offense as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, substance abuse or psychological problem stemming from U.S. military service.

Eligibility is determined by a screening process designed to protect the community, verify veteran status and determine amenability to treatment. Admission to the program requires the unanimous approval of the judge, district attorney and VA representative.

Less than half of those screened since the program began last November have been admitted.

The goal of this court is to prevent veterans from falling into a life of crime.

Rather than arresting and jailing veterans only to return them to the same type of life, the collaborative court connects veterans to needed treatment and services, which may include mental health care, drug and alcohol treatment, vocational rehabilitation or other life skills services.

The process begins with a guilty plea and in-court meeting involving the veteran, his or her attorney and the VA representative.

The court is conducted by Judge Colleen Toy White, who has experience with domestic violence court and mental health court.

Ventura Veterans Court hearings take place at 3 p.m. every Monday at the Hall of Justice, courtroom 35, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura.