Veterans Treatment Court Impact on Veteran Mental Health and Life Satisfaction

Abstract

After discharge from the military, veterans may experience significant readjustment stress, including involvement with the criminal justice system. For veterans who find themselves in the criminal justice system, the Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) offers a pre-trial diversion program rather than incarceration. In 2016, the 285 th District Court in Midland Texas began accepting veterans in theirnew VTC. Participation involved mental health and/or substance use treatment, attending mentoring groups, and employment.Over 18 months, 29 Veterans were invited to participate in the VTC; 26 entered the program, and of these, 16 successfully completed the program (graduated); 3 were discharged due to continued arrests, substance use, or failure to show for services. A battery of mental health and life satisfaction questionnaires were administered upon entry, 6 months, and 1 year. For Veterans who graduated, the PCL-5 and DASS-21 showed reducedPTSD symptoms, depression, anxiety, and stress. Furthermore, the number of Veterans scoring in the normal range of symptoms on the PCL-5 and DASS-21 increased after 6 months. Graduates exhibited greater life satisfaction, social support, and psychological well-being, andhad no interaction with law enforcement. It was suggested that peer restoration components of VTC programs are vital for success.

Veteran Treatment Court Clients’ Perceptions of Procedural Justice and Recidivism

“…Furthermore, over 1.9 million Americans were deployed in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) (Institute of Medicine, 2013). Given this widespread involvement of the general population in military service, researchers are increasingly interested in understanding the short-and long-term effects of military service (Institute of Medicine, 2013;Montgomery & Olson, 2018). Of concern are the high rates of mental illness, PTSD, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and drug addiction among veterans returning from active duty (Finlay et al, 2015;Seal et al, 2009Seal et al, , 2011.…”

“…Military veterans encounter unique challenges when returning from active duty. Studies find these men and women may experience stress stemming from re-engagement with civilian life and from the lingering, deleterious effects of combat experiences (Montgomery & Olson, 2018). Certain military experiences, particularly engaging in combat and duty-related injuries, can traumatize individuals both physically and mentally resulting in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomology, mental illness, substance use disorders, and maladaptation (Blodgett et al, 2015;Department of Veterans Affairs, 2012;Finlay et al, 2015;May et al, 2017;Maynard et al, 2017).…”

Trauma-Informed Training for Veterans Treatment Court Professionals: Program Development and Initial Feedback

“…Successful graduates of VTC programs demonstrate significant improvements in mental health symptoms, life satisfaction, and social support, as well as lower rates of law enforcement interactions. 6,7 However, less is known about supporting those veterans who have difficulty engaging in VTCs and either discontinue participation or require lengthier periods of participation to meet court graduation requirements. 8 One possibility to improve engagement among these veterans is to enhance court practices to best meet their needs.…”