SB County Probation Dept. Receives Grant to Assist Veterans

Source: Santa Barbara County Probation Department

The Santa Barbara County Probation Department is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a three-year grant totaling $975,000 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT). This grant will allow for expansion and enhancement of the Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) in Santa Barbara, which is a joint initiative among justice partners, community-based treatment providers and veterans’ service organizations.

This program will specialize in the treatment of military veterans who have become involved in the criminal justice system. VTCs are a response to the growing trend of veterans appearing before the courts who face criminal charges stemming from substance abuse and/or mental illness. According to Justice For Vets, one in six Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffer with a substance use disorder. Additionally, 50 percent of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) do not receive treatment. These afflictions have been shown to lead to depression, joblessness and homelessness. While other courts have served veteran populations, research has shown that traditional services do not always adequately meet the needs of this population. 

“Receiving this grant provides an enormous opportunity for veterans who are in the criminal justice system,” said Assistant Presiding Judge Michael J. Carrozzo. “I would like to recognize and thank the numerous members of the VTC team, both past and present, who have worked tirelessly for years to increase the capabilities of the programs available to veterans in the Santa Barbara courts.”  

Carrozzo added, “The Santa Barbara VTC was established in 2012 by Judge George Eskin (since retired) in order to provide treatment to veterans rather than incarceration. The goal of VTC over the years has been to protect the community while supporting veterans.”

The grant will facilitate operational enhancement and partnership between the Probation Department, Santa Barbara County Superior Court, and a consortium of community based organizations (Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, New Beginnings Counseling Center and Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics), in collaboration with local city, county and federal veterans’ organizations and the University of California, Santa Barbara.  The program will divert veteran-offenders to a specialized court docket that will offer specific, targeted resources and provide participants with the opportunity to establish clean and sober lifestyles, reduce criminality and psychiatric episodes, and improve the quality of their lives. 

For information about Santa Barbara County government and the Probation Department, go to www.CountyofSb.org.