US Veterans’ Court Programs: An Inventory and Analysis of National Survey Data

Abstract

This study used data from a phone survey inventory of US veterans' courts to provide descriptive information on the current status of their various elements. To identify which items were most predictive of a court's percentage of subjects terminated from their program, a linear regression was performed. The following were associated with higher rates of termination from the veterans' court (VC) program: (a) programs that offered phase progression based on measurable goals, (b) programs that conduct frequent drug and alcohol testing, and (c) programs for which sanctions are more severe for failing immediate goals (sobriety) versus long-term ones (completion of training). The following were associated with lower rates of termination from the VC program: (a) programs in which later phases permit less stringent testing, (b) programs utilizing behavioral contracts, (c) programs utilizing brief incarcerations. This inventory provides nationwide empirical data that may be used in the development of veterans' courts.

Predictors of Incarceration of Veterans Participating in U.S. Veterans’ Courts

“…However, the level of association was no longer significant after the Bonferroni adjustment was applied. Prior research has shown that 55% of VC programs utilize behavioral contracts (16).…”

When a Veterans’ Treatment Court Fails: Lessons Learned from a Qualitative Evaluation

“…The majority of VTC programs include a mentoring component (Johnson et al, 2016), and mentoring has been a component of VTCs since their inception. The first sustained VTC in Buffalo, New York, incorporated volunteer veteran mentors into the court's structure.…”

Veteran treatment courts: A promising solution

“…These courts, like other specialty courts, grew out of individual communities and are often reflective of the style of their judicial leaders. They may differ in their clinical and legal eligibility requirements, whether they are post‐plea or pre‐plea, and the types of sanctions and rewards meted out (Johnson et al, ), yet through the efforts of Justice for Vets and with the support of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, court staff training provides consistency and a goal of conforming to the basic principles of drug courts (Justice for Vets, n.d.‐b). Critical VTC elements include a non‐adversarial approach, mental health treatment and availability of support services, judicial accountability through close monitoring, and consistent use of rewards and sanctions to modify participant behavior.…”

“…A criminal record will compound these challenges by adding further barriers to employment and housing, and by increasing disruption to family and support systems. The VTC model allows a shift in focus from a punitive to a rehabilitative stance, taking advantage of the vocational, educational, and housing benefits that veterans have earned through their military service, and by providing for the possibility of reduction or dismissal of charges (Johnson et al, ). Additionally, VTCs offer an opportunity to connect veterans to community services and support, such as through peer mentor programs that have been established in the VA (Oh & Rufener, ) and have become a component of VTC programs (Justice for Vets, n.d.‐d).…”

“…Such exceptions allow for the difficulty in distinguishing a “service‐related condition” in the context of multiple confounding factors and the consideration that VTC participation may promote the aims of the court for an individual veteran defendant, despite a lack of an evident relationship between illness and military service. Other courts determine eligibility based on combat history or eligibility for VA healthcare benefits, without regard to the presence of a connection between illness and service or illness and offense (Johnson et al, ).…”