Prince William County Recognizes Veterans Treatment Docket Graduates

The Greater Prince William Veterans Treatment Docket recently recognized program graduates. The docket allows eligible veterans involved in the criminal justice system to enter a structured treatment and recovery program that offers an alternative to incarceration.  

The program, which can take more than a year to complete, includes treatment for substance use disorders and mental health conditions while offering participating veterans the opportunity to have their charges reduced or dismissed upon successful completion.  

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than one in 10 veterans needs substance abuse treatment. Some also experience co-occurring conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury. According to 2022 U.S. Census Bureau data, roughly 43,000 veterans live in Prince William County. 

The docket, which includes community support services, connects participating veterans with the Veterans Health Administration, the Virginia Department of Veterans Services and the Virginia Employment Commission to provide resources and support throughout the program. 

In 2019, the Virginia Supreme Court authorized the Prince William County General District Court to establish a Veterans Treatment Docket to help justice-involved veterans address their unique challenges. The county's court system implemented the program that same year. 

Jesse Citizen, Chair of the Prince William County Veterans Commission, gave the keynote address at the graduation ceremony. Citizen, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel, reflected on the support he received throughout his military career, from enlistment to retirement and commended the graduates for their accomplishments. 

“You came to court twice a month,” Citizen said. “You sat in the classes and the meetings. You told the truth when it would have been easy not to. Nobody can do that for you, but your mentors walked beside you and your families stood behind you. But you had to do the work. Needing help is not a weakness. When someone offers you a hand, the best way to thank them is to take it.” 

One of the six veterans who completed the docket said the experience helped her better understand herself and find a path forward. 

“It really made me look at myself as an individual,” she said. “I know where I'm going today and in the future, and I know it's a better place.”  

The docket operates under Prince William County's Office of Criminal Justice Services, or OCJS. OCJS Director Tomaudrie Thomas, a U.S. Army veteran, said graduation gives veterans an opportunity to recognize how far they have come through the demanding program. 

“Successful completion of the Veterans Treatment Docket is not easy,” Thomas said. “Participants face significant challenges, but their dedication and commitment to making positive changes in their lives is evident. Seeing how far they've come, from the challenges they faced when entering the program to successfully graduating, is incredibly impactful.” 

The docket team includes Judges Wallace S. Covington, III and Abigail A. Miller; the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney for Prince William County; the Prince William County Office of the Public Defender; the Office of Criminal Justice Services; Community Services; the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Justice Outreach Program; and veterans justice specialists from the Virginia Department of Veterans Services. 

The program also relies on volunteer veteran mentors who provide encouragement and support, serving as battle buddies to participants throughout their journey. 

For more information about the program, visit Veterans Docket. To join the Veteran Mentor Team, visit the volunteer job posting on the county's website.