Implementing A Veterans Court

The application seeks to expand the effectiveness of its problem-solving courts by increasing its ability to treat eligible adults with military history in a post-adjudication court, "Implementing A Veterans Court."  This grant will provide participants optimal treatment by bridging services from intake to Veterans Affairs services, implement bridge Medication-Assisted Treatment, and continue to provide wrap services that ensure a continuity of care from incarceration to the community.  To do so, the 21st JDC Requests a Grant to Implement a Veterans Court Type A in the amount of $500,000.  These funds will allow Veterans Court services to be provided to an expanded number of clients per year:  from an estimated 0 clients to 30 in year 1, from an estimated 15 to 60 clients in year 2, from 20 to 70 clients in year 3, and from 30 to 80 clients in year four who were previously receiving non-veteran specific programming.  These defendants have persistent justice involvement, for drug offenses involving post traumatic stress.  As Veterans Court is an average 18-month multi-phasic program, to serve an estimated 175 clients over the four-year grant period upon implementation.

The goals of this implementation are:  1) connect justice-involved persons with individualized treatment, 2) ensure public safety and reduce the number and degree of violence of participants' contacts with law enforcement, and 3) promote recovery and increase participant overall functioning though increased collaboration amount court, counsel, state and local government agencies, and community services.  To do so, Veterans Court will enroll additional clients in substance abuse and trauma-informed treatment, expand medication-assisted treatment when applicable, expand the use of peer support specialists to promote recovery, promote abstinence from tobacco, alcohol and drugs, track recidivism, provide treatment interventions that address crimongenic factors and thinking, provide individualized, culturally-competent, trauma informed, evidence-based services based on participant's level of need, reduce the number of relapses, increase social activity and supports, and increase the number of days of employment and/or maintenance of income.  Evidence-based treatment modalities currently include the following components that can be customized with client input to create an individualized treatment plan:  Illness Management and Recovery, Motivational Interviewing, Relapse Prevention Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Intensive Case Management, and Permanent Supportive Housing.