Strategics | Studies, Essays, Thesises » Veteran Treatment Courts

Source: http://www.doksinet Veteran Treatment Courts Overview In 2008, Judge Robert Russell founded the first Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) in Buffalo, NY in an attempt to rehabilitate veterans instead of incarcerating them. VTCS, often referred to as Vet or Veterans Courts, are currently located in more than 50 communities across the country. VTCs leverage the court system to keep veterans with a diagnosis of substance abuse or a behavioral health disorder in treatment long enough to permanently change their behavior. They involve cooperation and collaboration with traditional partners found in Drug Courts, such as prosecutors, defense counsel, treatment providers, probation officers, and law enforcement personnel. Representatives from the Department of Veterans of Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA), and other veteran-affiliated groups are also generally involved. Many veterans present symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder

(PTSD) and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI), and there is growing evidence that these behavioral health disorders, if left untreated, may lead to involvement in the criminal justice system.i Veterans are not exempt from this. In fact, veterans who suffer with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI) or substance abuse have a higher chance of ending up in the court system. In 2006, 60 percent of veterans in prison had substance abuse problems.ii Please note that while participation in VTCs is limited to veterans, implementing a VTC in your community is vital; these courts greatly facilitate the return of veterans to contributing citizens of the community. There are three steps to establishing a VTC in your community: 1) Develop an Understanding of Veterans Treatment Courts; 2) Determine Need, Support, and Resources; 3) Network with Supporting Organizations; and 4) Implement the VTC. Is it being done already? Contact your local court system to determine if your

community has a Veterans Treatment Court already. If not, be sure to ask if one is in the process of being started If it is in the works, contact the organizer(s) to see if you can be of any help with volunteer recruitment or by offering the coalition of resources formed by the Community Blueprint to the cause. 600 Means Street NW - Suite 210 – Atlanta, GA 30318 281 Park Avenue South – 6th Floor – New York City, NY 10010 1875 K Street – Washington, DC 20005 www.pointsoflightorg Source: http://www.doksinet Step-by-Step Implementation Step 1: Develop an Understanding of Veterans Treatment Courts Before implementation begins, it is helpful to understand what a VTC is, how it works, and what options your community has when it comes to how your VTC will operate. The following is an example of how a VTC operates: A two-tour Iraq combat veteran was charged with his second DUI. The veteran’s attorney believed that the veteran client was a good candidate for VTC and submitted an

application for entry into the to the district attorney’s office. The district attorney is the gatekeeper who decides whether candidates will be accepted based off the charges. In this example, the district attorney allowed the veteran to participate in the program. After the veteran was accepted into the program, he was clinically assessed. This generally consists of substance abuse and mental health tests, as a diagnosis of substance abuse or a behavioral health disorder is required. VTCs only work if there is an underlying condition to treat that was causing the criminal behavior. The veteran was clinically diagnosed with substance abuse and multiple behavioral health disorders. He had turned to alcohol as a result of PTSD and TBI. The VTC judge put the veteran in contact with the Veterans Justice Outreach Specialist (VJO) from the VHA. The VJO had been in court with the veteran, and recommended that he start inpatient treatment for substance abuse and PTSD. The VTC judge then

ordered him to comply with the VA’s recommendations. The veteran was then connected to a volunteer veteran mentor from The American Legion, and with the help of the VBA’s Veterans Service Representative in court, he filed for disability compensation. Six months later the veteran received a disability rating of 60 percent and began receiving monthly disability compensation, which he uses for living expenses. The disability rating qualified the veteran for VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) VetSuccess Program, which pays for his education. He now attends the local university and is in the process of earning his undergraduate degree. Utilizing some of the services offered by his state to veterans with a disability rating, he now has a reduced auto tag fees and a free fishing license. He uses the fishing license to take fishing trips with his son. In the end, the veteran underwent 15 months of intense supervision and counseling to graduate the program a sober,

stable member of society. He will be a more productive member of the local community as a skilled member of the workforce with a college degree. 600 Means Street NW - Suite 210 – Atlanta, GA 30318 281 Park Avenue South – 6th Floor – New York City, NY 10010 1875 K Street – Washington, DC 20005 www.pointsoflightorg Source: http://www.doksinet Note: These benefits are paid for by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and not the local community or state. These services and benefits already existed in the community and were earned by the veteran’s military service. The state services used were already budgeted for, and therefore there is no additional cost to provide those services in your community. For more information concerning VTC eligibility, contact Justice for Vets. For instance, some courts allow violent offenders to be treated through the VTC, while some do not. Step 2: Determine Need, Support, and Resources There are a number of factors you must consider before

beginning the creation and implementation of a VTC in your community.    Need: Though it would be ideal for every community to have a VTC, it takes a certain amount of demand and support to make it viable for a community to take on. Before setting the wheels in motion, take steps to verify that there is a sufficient veteran population to be served. Check with the judicial system, law enforcement, and local jail(s) to see how many veterans are involved in the criminal justice system. In addition, talk to local lawyers, judges, and the district attorney’s office to get their opinion on how many veterans your community has in its criminal justice system. Support: If the need is sufficient, take steps to determine the support for a VTC. Find the Drug Court in your community (see Additional Resources at the end of this document for more information) for the initial infrastructure needed for the VTC. Form a support group to assist with the implementation of VTC in your area.

Individuals and organizations that may be interested in participating include: o The Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Specialist at the VA Medical Center in your area o The Homeless and Incarcerated Veterans Outreach Coordinator in the VA Regional Office in your area o Local VSOs, such as The American Legion, AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Marine Corps League, and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). o The Department of Labor’s Disabled Veterans Outreach Person and/or Local Veterans Employment Representative, through the local employment office o State and local Bar Associations o The local Vet Center for Readjustment Counseling. Resources: VTCs do not necessarily create another bureaucracy; they utilize all of the resources available for veterans that are already in the community. Team members that support a VTC are not employed by the criminal justice system and normally would not be present at the courthouse, so consider consolidating justice-involved veterans onto a

single docket to permit these individuals to actively support those in need of their help. 600 Means Street NW - Suite 210 – Atlanta, GA 30318 281 Park Avenue South – 6th Floor – New York City, NY 10010 1875 K Street – Washington, DC 20005 www.pointsoflightorg Source: http://www.doksinet Implementing a VTC is a community effort. From the support group formed above, a few people will stand out as strong advocates who are willing and have the time, resources, and connections to get the court started. It is likely that the support group will contain members from the Community Blueprint Coalition that your community has formed. Use the Community Blueprint leaders who are connected to the legal space to form the first connections. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Title: VTC Mentor Coordinator Task: Identify the support group for the VTC from the above-mentioned resources. Maintain a database of contact information, and keep the support group informed of the latest meetings, updates, and

needs of the VTC. Attributes: Articulate, organized, and proactive. Who: Consider law students, members of a local financial literacy or legal organization, or someone who works in the veteran, drug court, or legal space. Hours: 200+ over 6+ months Title: Volunteer Veteran Mentor Task: Provide veterans with opportunities to interact with other veterans in court, instilling in them the camaraderie that was felt while serving in the military. Attributes: Acts as a coach, a guide, a role model, and an advocate for the veteran they are working with. Who: Veterans and other members of the military community. Hours: 2+ per week Step 3: Attend a Conference or Training, Find a VTC Mentor Court, and Implement the VTC with Help from Justice For Vets When your community is ready to start a VTC, a few initiatives are in place to help facilitate the implementation.   Veterans Treatment Court Planning Initiative: Ten jurisdictions are accepted into each program and will receive assistance in

planning and developing their VTCs. It is a six-month comprehensive planning process. For more information or to apply for the next initiative, please see Additional Resources. Veterans Treatment Court Mentor Program: Select VTCs are chosen as mentor courts for three years, and these courts advise new VTCs with planning and implementation. Jurisdictions must apply for this opportunity For more information, see the link in Resources. Whichever you choose, Justice for Vets can help your community through the process. 600 Means Street NW - Suite 210 – Atlanta, GA 30318 281 Park Avenue South – 6th Floor – New York City, NY 10010 1875 K Street – Washington, DC 20005 www.pointsoflightorg Source: http://www.doksinet Measuring Success If your community was ready for a Veterans Treatment Court, were you able to plan and implement a working court? As the court matures, be sure to monitor how effective it is at decreasing recidivism and creating contributing citizens. Survey those

in the VTC as they enter and as they graduate, and inquire as to their progress and successes and difficulties in the program. The above information, including statistics and general information about Veterans Treatment Courts, was provided by Justice For Vets, a project of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. For more information on Veteran Treatment Courts, visit wwwJusticeForVetsorg 600 Means Street NW - Suite 210 – Atlanta, GA 30318 281 Park Avenue South – 6th Floor – New York City, NY 10010 1875 K Street – Washington, DC 20005 www.pointsoflightorg Source: http://www.doksinet Additional Resources         2-1-1: http://www.211org/ o Organized by United Way, the 2-1-1 Information and Referral Service provides free and confidential help with food, housing, employment, health care, counseling, and more. American Bar Association Home Front: http://www.americanbarorg/portals/public resources/aba home fronthtml o American Bar

Association (ABA) Home Front features an Information Center with publications and resources on a variety of legal topics that military families may encounter. The American Legion: http://www.legionorg/ o The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow servicemembers and veterans. AMVETS: http://www.amvetsorg/ o As one of America’s foremost veterans service organizations, AMVETS (or American Veterans) has a proud history of assisting veterans and sponsoring numerous programs that serve our country and its citizens. The helping hand that AMVETS extends to veterans and their families takes many forms. Department of Veterans Affairs:

http://www.vaorg o The VA was founded in order to fulfill President Abraham Lincoln’s promise, “To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan” by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s veterans. To this end, the VA operates an extensive array of facilities throughout the United States. o Veterans Justice Outreach Initiative: http://www.vagov/homeless/vjoasp Disabled American Veterans: http://www.davorg/ o The 1.2 million-member Disabled American Veterans (DAV) is a non-profit 501(c)(4) charity dedicated to building better lives for America’s disabled veterans and their families. Justice For Vets: http://www.justiceforvetsorg o Justice For Vets is the nation’s first and only nonprofit and nonpartisan organization exclusively committed to ensuring that veterans suffering from mental health illness and/or substance abuse, who are involved in the criminal justice system, have access to a Veterans Treatment Court. Marine

Corps League: http://www.mcleagueorg/ o The Marine Corps League was formed to promote the ideals of American freedom and democracy by voluntarily aiding and rendering assistance to all Marines, FMF Corpsmen, and former Marines, as well as to their widows and orphans; and to perpetuate the history of the United States Marine Corps and by 600 Means Street NW - Suite 210 – Atlanta, GA 30318 281 Park Avenue South – 6th Floor – New York City, NY 10010 1875 K Street – Washington, DC 20005 www.pointsoflightorg Source: http://www.doksinet        fitting acts to observe the anniversaries of historical occasions of particular interest to Marines. National Association of Drug Court Professionals: http://www.nadcporg o The National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation founded in 1994 by pioneers from the first twelve Drug Courts in the nation. This extraordinary group of innovative judges, prosecutors,

defense attorneys, and clinical professionals created a commonsense approach to improving the justice system by using a combination of judicial monitoring and effective treatment to compel drug-using offenders to change their lives. National Drug Court Institute: http://www.ndciorg o The National Drug Court Institute (NDCI) was established by NADCP in late 1997 to provide both all-inclusive training and technical support to the Drug Courts across the country. In its brief history, the institute has provided comprehensive training to over 36 thousand professionals throughout the United States, plus U.S territoriesand seven foreign countries o Information on applying for the Veterans Treatment Court Planning Initiative: http://www.ndciorg/training/design-drug-court/veterans-treatment-court-planninginitiative o Information on Veterans Treatment Court Mentor Court Program: http://www.ndciorg/training/visit-mentor-court National Resource Directory: https://www.nationalresourcedirectorygov/

o The National Resource Directory is a website that connects wounded warriors, Service Members, Veterans, their families, and caregivers to programs and services that support them. It provides access to services and resources at the national, state and local levels to support recovery, rehabilitation and community reintegration. Veteran Employment and Training Service: http://www.dolgov/vets o VETS provides a center for information regarding veteran and service member employment. The site explains government hiring programs, contains toolkits for employers, and details the programs available to veterans and service members seeking employment. Veterans of Foreign Wars: http://www.vfworg/ Established in 1899, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) has emerged as one of the most influential veteran service organizations in the country. The VFWs voice was instrumental in establishing the Veterans Administration, creating a GI bill for the 20th century, developing of the national cemetery

system, and in many other well-known areas. Warrior Gateway: http://www.warriorgatewayorg/ o Warrior Gateway is a non-profit whose mission is to connect individuals in the military, veterans, and their families with federal, state, and local government programs as well as non-profit organizations in their local communities. 600 Means Street NW - Suite 210 – Atlanta, GA 30318 281 Park Avenue South – 6th Floor – New York City, NY 10010 1875 K Street – Washington, DC 20005 www.pointsoflightorg Source: http://www.doksinet i The Community Blueprint relies upon an established and peer-reviewed body of scientific research when discussing PTSD and other behavioral health issues. While we understand and sympathize with the argument that the term “PTSD” itself does not accurately convey the nature of the post-traumatic stress, or that “PTSD” may inadvertently contribute to stigma, we nevertheless feel its use is necessary in order to present our documents in the most

broadly understandable and accurate way possible. We will reevaluate our terminology as the diagnostic criteria for PTSD continue to evolve. ii National Associate of Drug Court Professionals. (2011) Veterans treatment court studies and statistics Retrieved August 4, 2011, from National Association of Drug Court Professionals http://www.nadcporg/node/442 600 Means Street NW - Suite 210 – Atlanta, GA 30318 281 Park Avenue South – 6th Floor – New York City, NY 10010 1875 K Street – Washington, DC 20005 www.pointsoflightorg