Pierce County Superior Court is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration to support a Veterans Drug Court. The grant of $300,000 per year for 3 years will provide an enhancement and expansion to the Pierce County Drug Court specifically targeted to the large military population of Pierce County. Pierce County hosts over 95,000 veterans; one of the largest veteran populations in the nation. Among these veterans, a large percentage is recent returnees from combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The new program will serve veterans who have become involved with the criminal justice system, are determined to be drug dependent and who in many cases suffer from combat-related mental disorders.

Veterans Drug Court will provide a dedicated treatment program in tandem with the Pierce County Alliance, a private, non-profit, social service agency located in Tacoma, Washington. Pierce County Alliance specializes in providing substance abuse and mental health services for individuals, families and the community and it is a long-time treatment provider for Drug Court.

In addition, the new drug court will work in direct partnership with federal and state veterans' offices, governmental and local community organizations to access the range of services needed to stabilize the veteran and ultimately to reintegrate him or her into the community through viable employment, safe shelter and, when needed, reunification with their family.

Pierce County's highly regarded Drug Court was formed in 1994. At that time it was the 23rd Drug Court in the nation to be created. It has been the recipient of several awards for its contribution to the treatment of substance abuse and for protection of the community through the reduction of recidivism among Drug Court's successful graduates.