Diversion of Veterans With Criminal Justice Involvement to Treatment Courts: Participant Characteristics and Outcomes

Abstract

Objective This study compared characteristics and outcomes between veterans who participated in veterans treatment courts (VTCs) and veterans involved in criminal justice who participated in other treatment courts (TCs) or who participated in neither VTCs or TCs. Methods Data from 22,708 veterans (N=8,083 VTC participants, 680 participants in other TCs [other-TC participants], and 13,945 participants in neither VTCs nor TCs [non-TC participants]) in the Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) program were analyzed by using multilevel regression models. Results VTC participants were more likely than other VJO participants to have served in Iraq or Afghanistan, but there were no sociodemographic disparities in access to VTCs. VTC participants were more likely than non-TC participants to have drug or public-order offenses, and they were more likely than other-TC participants to have DUI offenses. VTC participants had better independent housing outcomes than other VJO participants, and they had better employment outcomes than non-TC participants. However, VTC and other-TC participants were also more likely to have jail sanctions and new incarcerations compared with non-TC participants. Conclusions VTCs are a growing service model that serves a broad group of veterans with a range of criminal offenses. Although VTCs show moderate benefits in housing and employment, specialized services are needed to reduce recidivism and maximize these benefits.

A scoping review of military veterans involved in the criminal justice system and their health and healthcare

“…Several articles focused on conditions and experiences related to military service such as PTSD and trauma (Backhaus et al, 2016; Bennett, Morris, Sexton, Bonar, & Chermack, 2018; Elbogen et al, 2012; Saxon et al, 2001; Sigafoos, 1994). A number of observational studies addressed violence (Elbogen et al, 2012; Hoyt et al, 2014; MacManus et al, 2013) and Veterans Treatment Courts (Clark, Blue-Howells, & McGuire, 2014; Knudsen & Wingenfeld, 2016; Tsai, Flatley, Kasprow, Clark, & Finlay, 2017). Only one study we identified examined suicide as the primary outcome (Ilgen, Harris, Moos, & Tiet, 2007), though another study addressed suicide along with other factors (Kimbrel et al, 2014).…”

Worthy of Justice: A Veterans Treatment Court in Practice

“…Since many of the participants in VTCs are not necessarily individuals with service‐related needs (Tsai et al ), looking at stated explanations for the creation and administration of justice in VTCs can leave an incomplete picture of their purpose and practice. Further, cross‐national quantitative data show variation in court rules and procedures that make it hard to generalize the relationship between purpose and practice without qualitative analysis (Flatley et Al.…”

Veteran treatment courts: A promising solution

“…Although the sample sizes involved in both examples were small, these results appear promising. Tsai et al (2016) evaluated national data from the VJO program, noting positive outcomes related to independent housing and employment for VTC participants.…”

“…If one of the primary ethical justifications favoring VTCs is their humanitarian purpose, another outcome of interest is whether participation in the VTC ultimately leads to improvement in the veterans' quality of life and psychiatric symptoms. The improved employment and independent housing outcomes (Tsai et al, 2016) are augmented by a pilot study of 86 veterans in an Ohio VTC program that found highly significant improvements in PTSD symptoms, depression symptoms, substance use and recovery orientation, sleep quality, social connectedness, and emotional wellbeing. Specific components of the court program that were found to be particularly effective were trauma-focused treatment, peer mentorship, and medication therapy (Knudsen & Wingenfeld, 2016).…”