MAVS Court
Military & Veteran Services
Who We Are
The Military & Veteran Services Specialized Docket, known as MAVS, is a voluntary specialized docket with a focus on helping Veterans recover from addiction, deal with mental health issues, and regain their honor by reducing criminal behavior. Certified by the Supreme Court of Ohio, MAVS is an opportunity for participants to engage in treatment rather than facing incarceration.
Our Mission
MAVS strives to honor the commitment of the participants who serve their country by guiding and assisting them in rebuilding their lives in the face of addiction and/or mental health issues that have led them to become involved in the criminal justice system.
" This docket honors justice involved veterans by evidence based practices and intensive probation to assist them in healing and resuming a normal life."
— Judge Ted Barrows, Former Judge of MAVS
"This road was necessary. This road was long and tedious, but this road made me look inside myself. Once you put your pride aside, you can come out of that dark tunnel and see the light."
- Ted Brooks, MAVS graduate
"We forget who we are. We forget about the strength we had. There's a reason we can do what we do and it's because we did what we did. Make just one day better."
- MAVS graduate
The Franklin County Municipal Court has teamed up with TEDxOhioStateUniversity to spread ideas on the theme of Restorative Justice. In his talk, Raleigh Starnes shares stories of his time in the military and his participation in the MAVS docket of the Franklin County Municipal Court.
Why utilize MAVS?
Community Safety
MAVS is designed both to assist the participant to have a better life and, when successful, to make the community safer by reducing the likelihood of the participant reoffending.
Restorative Justice
Veterans are well equipped to constitute the strongest fighting force in the world and training changes their outlook and personality. Deployment and combat further affects their mental health and Post Traumatic Stress is common and under-diagnosed. With no training, veterans struggle to adapt to civilian life, causing them to act and react to situations outside civilian norms. This leads to drug and alcohol self-medication and violations of the law.
Instead of sending veterans to jail where they are stigmatized and receive no treatment, MAVS works with individuals to address their needs to become productive and positive members of society.
Efficiency
For every $1 invested in specialized dockets, approximately $27 of taxpayer money is saved.
NADCP Statistics
Obligation
Citizens collectively owe a debt of gratitude to all those who took an oath to defend the country and the Constitution, even at the cost of their lives. From the point of view of the courts and the criminal justice system, providing this program is the least we can do.
What to Expect
Participants in MAVS Agree to the following:
- Satisfy program phase requirements
- Participate in status review hearings
- Meet with probation officers and coordinators
- Participate in drug and alcohol screens and treatment plans
- Utilize veteran services to qualify for benefits
- Connect with a peer mentor
- Consult a lawyer
- Discuss case transfer with assigned judge
- Talk with the prosecutor about referral
- Request mental health/substance abuse assessment with Coordinators
- Schedule a MAVS start date
Expectations and Benefits
Participants may have charges dismissed upon successful completion, avoid lengthy jail sentences, receive vocational training, housing, and other assistance to maintain stability, gain tools to continue treatment independently, and will have access to cultural services utilizing VA and community resources.
Requirements to Enter
Defendants must be a veteran with a pending eligible misdemeanor or felony charge and current mental health and/or substance use problem. Combat service and honorable discharge are not required.
View all Specialized Dockets