Transcript Justice Involved Veterans Recovery & Support

Justice Involved Veterans
Recovery & Support
Camila L. Lopez, LISW
Veterans Justice Outreach Coordinator
New Mexico VA Health Care System
United States Department of
Veterans Affairs
(VA)
Veterans Health
Administration
(VHA)
Veterans Benefits
Administration
(VBA)
All VA Healthcare
All VA Benefits
Primary Care
Mental Health
Specialty Care
Emergency Services
Community-based
Clinics
GI Bill
Home Loan Guaranty
Vocational Rehab
Compensation &
Pension (“Claims”)
Vet
Center
National Cemetery
Administration
(NCA)
All VA Cemetery
Services
National and State
Veteran Cemeteries
Headstones
Markers
Presidential Memorial
Certificates
United States Department of Veteran Affairs (VA)
VHA
VBA
Application for
Service Connection
Health Care
Submitting Evidence
1. Statement
2. Medical Records
3. C&P Doctor’s Medical
Exam (If needed)
Evidence is Reviewed and
Claim is Rated
NCA
Veterans Justice Programs

Health 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
Prevention
The 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 Statistics

2002: 9.3 percent of people incarcerated
in county jails were veterans

82% of those are eligible for VA services
Access
Goal 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 Veteran
A 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 Contacts
Law Enforcement & Emergency Services
 Initial Detention
 Jails and Specialty Courts
 Probation & Parole
 Community Correction and Support

Jail Outreach
Contact with local detention facilities
 Identify Veterans in detention
 Needs assessment

◦ Income, housing, treatment
Link to treatment & services
 Community Support
 Peer Support

Court Outreach
Pretrial Services
 Probation
 Public Defenders & Defense Attorneys
 District Attorneys / Prosecutors
 Specialty Court Administrators

Veterans Treatment Courts
Based upon evidence based drug court
model
 When 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 Center
 Home
 Community
 Court

Walk with the Veteran
 Non-judgmental approach
 Common 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.
Veterans Court Mentorship
MISSION STATEMENT
 Insure that every Veteran receives the
services needed to navigate the court,VA,
and other systems.

The Mentor acts as friend, ally and
advocate.
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 Roles
Coach
 Facilitator
 Advisor
 Sponsor
 Supporter
 Friend
 Not a counselor/therapist

Mentor Qualities
ACTIVE LISTENER
 EMPATHETIC
 ENCOURAGING AND SUPPORTIVE
 TOLERANT AND RESPECTFUL OF
INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES
 KNOWLEDGE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
SERVICES
 KNOWLEDGE OF COMMUNITY
SERVICES

Slide courtesy of Buffalo Veterans Court Mentor
Program
Veterans Court Mentor Case Example
Mr. A is a OIF Veteran initially identified in the
detention system. Justice involvement is directly
related to serious mental illness and cooccurring 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.
Links



www.justiceforvets.org
www.va.gov/homeless/vjo
www.nchv.org
◦ National Coalition for Homeless Veterans


www.buffaloveteranscourt.org
www.csctulsa.org
◦ Tulsa Veterans Treatment Court

http://www.ncsc.org/sitecore/content/microsites/
future-trends-2012/home/Courts-and-theCommunity/3-1-A-Mentor-in-Combat-VeteransCourt.aspx