Justice Involved Veterans

Recovery & Support

Camila L. Lopez, LISWVeterans Justice Outreach CoordinatorNew Mexico VA Health Care System

United States Department ofVeterans Affairs

(VA)

Veterans Health Administration

(VHA)

Veterans Benefits Administration

(VBA)

National Cemetery Administration

(NCA)

All VA Healthcare

Primary CareMental HealthSpecialty Care

Emergency Services

Community-based Clinics

All VA Benefits

GI BillHome Loan Guaranty

Vocational RehabCompensation &

Pension (“Claims”)

All VA Cemetery Services

National and State Veteran CemeteriesHeadstones

MarkersPresidential Memorial

Certificates

Vet Cente

r

United States Department of Veteran Affairs (VA)

Application for Service Connection

Submitting Evidence1. Statement2. Medical Records3. C&P Doctor’s Medical Exam (If needed)

Evidence is Reviewed and Claim is Rated

VHA NCAVBA

Health Care

Veterans Justice ProgramsHealth Care for Re-entry

Veterans◦Outreach to prisons◦Assist Veterans within 6 months of

release Access VHA Medical & Behavioral Health

Care

Veterans Justice Outreach◦Outreach to detention centers,

courts, law enforcement◦Assist Veterans with access to

Medical and Behavioral Health Care

PreventionThe VJO program is a prevention

focused component of the VHA homeless programs.

VJO serves as the clinical linkage to necessary treatment alternatives.

Link eligible justice involved veterans to needed medical care (including mental health, substance misuse, and vocational treatment).

Bureau of Justice Statistics2002: 9.3 percent of people

incarcerated in county jails were veterans

82% of those are eligible for VA services

AccessGoal is to improve access to

services for justice involved Veterans

Avoid unnecessary incarceration and criminalization of Veteran defendants and offenders with mental illness, substance misuse, and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Diversion to treatment, when legally appropriate, is encouraged

“No Wrong Door”Collaboration between the VA

medical centers, community partners, and veteran service agencies (state and local)

Justice Involved VeteranA Veteran in a local county jail or

correctional facility awaiting adjudication for a criminal charge (not yet sentenced)

A Veteran in contact with local law enforcement who can be potentially diverted from arrest into mental health / substance abuse treatment

A Veteran involved in some level of monitoring by a court

Justice Outreach ContactsLaw Enforcement & Emergency

ServicesInitial DetentionJails and Specialty CourtsProbation & ParoleCommunity Correction and

Support

Jail OutreachContact with local detention

facilitiesIdentify Veterans in detentionNeeds assessment

◦Income, housing, treatmentLink to treatment & servicesCommunity SupportPeer Support

Court Outreach

Pretrial ServicesProbationPublic Defenders & Defense

AttorneysDistrict Attorneys / ProsecutorsSpecialty Court Administrators

Veterans Treatment CourtsBased upon evidence based drug

court modelWhen legally appropriate, offer

alternative to detention (treatment)

Court teams are well informed about Veterans issues

Offer additional supports to increase likelihood of success

Veterans Treatment Courts Generally pre-sentencing

programs

Ongoing court supervision

Treatment requirements

Mentorship

Peer Support and Mentors

VHA hired Veterans as Peer Support Specialists

Veterans Courts seek Veteran volunteers to provide mentorship and support

Veterans Justice Outreach & Peer Support

Medical CenterHomeCommunityCourt

Walk with the VeteranNon-judgmental approachCommon ground

VA Peer Support Case Example

Mr. X is a combat Veteran with longstanding history of poly-substance use and history of related charges. He signed a plea agreement and believed his case was complete until the Court contacted him for sentencing years later.Mr. X had completed residential and outpatient treatment and maintained recovery for 3 years.The Veteran made contact with VJO Peer Support Specialist who identified Veteran as being in need of additional supports.

VA Peer Support Case Example (continued)

Peer Support Specialist and VJO attended court hearings and advocated for Veteran within the system. Mr. X was accepted into a specialty court and is on track to complete his court involvement successfully.Peer Support Specialist works with this Veteran as he deals with frustration and confusion about the court process.

MISSION STATEMENTInsure that every Veteran

receives the services needed to navigate the court, VA, and other systems.

The Mentor acts as friend, ally and advocate.

Veterans Court Mentorship

Slide courtesy of Buffalo Veterans Court Mentor Program

Goals of Mentorship in Vet Courts

Help Veterans navigate court, VA, and treatment systems

Help with readjustment to civilian life

Help Veteran and family access services

Veteran Mentor RolesCoachFacilitatorAdvisorSponsor Supporter FriendNot a counselor/therapist

ACTIVE LISTENEREMPATHETICENCOURAGING AND SUPPORTIVETOLERANT AND RESPECTFUL OF

INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCESKNOWLEDGE OF VETERANS

AFFAIRS SERVICESKNOWLEDGE OF COMMUNITY

SERVICES

Mentor Qualities

Slide courtesy of Buffalo Veterans Court Mentor Program

Veterans Court Mentor Case ExampleMr. A is a OIF Veteran initially identified in the detention system. Justice involvement is directly related to serious mental illness and co-occurring substance misuse. Mr. A was referred to Veterans Court but struggled to meet the requirements of that program and was in danger of unsuccessful termination until he was referred to a Vet Court Mentor.

Veterans Court Mentor Case Example (continued)The Veterans Court Mentor developed a relationship with Veteran through visits to his home, and helping with access to necessities and services. The relationship allows for honest communication which has improved the Veteran’s participation.Mr. A is a “high risk, high needs” client as identified by the Drug Court and Vet Court models.

Veterans Court Mentor Case Example (continued)The Vet Court Mentor continues to be highly active in supporting Mr. A through medical illness, relapse, and psychosocial stressors which challenge his ability to participate in the court program.The commitment of the Vet Court Mentor makes it possible for this Veteran to benefit from treatment and the opportunity offered by the Veterans Treatment Court.

Linkswww.justiceforvets.orgwww.va.gov/homeless/vjowww.nchv.org

◦National Coalition for Homeless Veteranswww.buffaloveteranscourt.orgwww.csctulsa.org

◦Tulsa Veterans Treatment Courthttp://www.ncsc.org/sitecore/content/

microsites/future-trends-2012/home/Courts-and-the-Community/3-1-A-Mentor-in-Combat-Veterans-Court.aspx