Veterans Treatment Court

What is a veterans treatment court?

Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) is a specialized court designed specifically to work with justice-involved veterans. Although criminal activity and substance use issues can occur among the general population, veterans have experiences that can uniquely impact their mental health, substance use, and legal risks. ^[1][2]

VTCs aim to provide an alternative to incarceration for these individuals, ordering treatment instead of jail, while taking into consideration their experiences and individual circumstances. The intention is to ensure that veterans receive the necessary support to manage mental health and substance use issues, housing and employment challenges, and risks of reoffending. The program can also help to reduce sentencing or dismiss charges for individuals who complete the requirements of the program. ^[1][3]

How veterans court works

VTC processes involve: ^[3]

• A veteran can request that a VTC manage their case. The defense and prosecution attorneys must agree that the case is suitable for VTC, and the judge must then approve it.
• A specialist from the Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) assesses the individual’s eligibility and treatment requirements, which are then further assessed and considered by a local VA medical facility.
• A treatment plan is developed from the outcomes of this assessment, which is presented to the judge and, if approved, the individual commences. Compliance is monitored by a VJO, case manager, and regular court visits.
• Completion of the program, which generally lasts 12-18 months, will typically result in the case being dismissed or probation being terminated. Non-compliance can result in agreement terms being revoked and the case returning to the court for sentencing.

Benefits of the veterans court

Benefits of VTCs include: ^[5][6]

• Helping to prevent incarceration and reoffending.
• Viewing individuals in a holistic and person-centered manner, rather than based solely on their criminal activity.
• Providing needed services to help veterans achieve long-term stability in their health, mental health, housing, and employment status.
• Eligibility for reduced sentencing or dismissal of charges for successful completion of the program.
• Promoting treatment and recovery for mental health and substance use issues.
• Providing suitable and necessary interventions to those who may not otherwise utilize them.
• Providing accountability to justice-involved veterans.

Is veterans court effective?

Although the current research and data are limited and require further study, the results are generally promising. ^[5] A systematic review of available research on VTCs highlights that these studies are small and lack rigorous research designs. However, key findings include: ^[1]

• Mental health: Significant improvements in mental health, particularly symptoms of PTSD and depression.
• Substance use: Reduced drug use.
• Relationships: Improved interpersonal relationships and social connectedness.
• Reoffending: No significant changes in recidivism rates, although a small number of studies indicated reduced rates.
• Self-aggression: Where mentioned, significant reductions in self-harming behaviors.
• Aggression against others: Changes in aggression toward others were not mentioned in most of the studies; where it was, no improvements were found.
• Housing and employment: Varying results in this aspect, with some showing significant improvements in housing and employment circumstances, and others showing no significant change.

These findings highlight the need for further research and individualized treatment approaches for all VTC programs.

Who is eligible for veterans treatment court?

Specific inclusion or exclusion criteria vary by state and court, although typical eligibility considerations include: ^[1][5]

• Past or present duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (typically honorable discharges only, although other discharges are sometimes considered on a case-by-case basis).
• Criminal charges linked to a diagnosis of substance use or mental health issues.
• Agreement to engage in treatment.
• Typically, non-violent or misdemeanor offenses only.
• No criminal history or misdemeanor and non-violent cases only.
• Agreed approval between the court, prosecution, and defense.
• Continued engagement in their court-ordered program.

Veterans court vs. Other specialty courts

How to find a veterans court near you

To find local VTCs, it can be helpful to search state judicial websites. Most states have VTCs and provide information on their websites about the locations and other support available for justice-involved veterans.

The government’s veteran website, www.va.gov, provides a search function for specific veteran services and contact details to access further resources and support. They can be phoned on 800-698-2411, and a Veterans Justice Outreach Coordinator can help with finding nearby courts.

When to seek additional support

Additional support may be necessary in various circumstances, including:

• If there are issues relating to legal matters, consult with an attorney.
• In the case of a crisis, such as severe PTSD symptoms or suicidal ideation, contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by phoning or texting 988 or texting 838255 for the Veterans Crisis Line.
• If substance use issues become more severe or an overdose is suspected, call 911 for emergency medical attention or contact a substance use treatment specialist.
• Support groups can be a beneficial addition to other mental health and substance use treatments.