By Peter S. Gaytan

 

Veterans suffering from substance abuse and/or mental illness may be better served by appearing before a Veterans Treatment Court rather than the traditional justice system. Patterned on the civilian Drug Courts, Veterans Treatment Courts promote sobriety, recovery, and stability.

 

Veterans Treatment Courts do not consider violent offenders. They deal primarily with drug and drug-driven offenses. If the offense involves a victim, the consent of the victim and payment of restitution is typically mandatory.

 

We know, given the experiences many have in battle, that veterans are at a higher risk for substance abuse and mental illness. One in four veterans between the ages of 18-25 meets the criteria for substance abuse disorder. The VA estimates that up to one-third of the adult homeless population has served in the military. Mirroring the problems, of the general homeless population, 45 percent of veterans who are homeless suffer from mental illness; 75 percent suffer from substance abuse problems.

 

While a veteran is not more likely to be arrested than someone in the general population, those who are involved in the criminal justice system tend to struggle with mental health and/or substance abuse issues. While this particular study is old, it’s telling. In a 2000 Bureau of Justice Statistics Report, 81 percent of all veterans involved in the criminal justice system, had a substance abuse problem prior to incarceration. Furthermore, 35 percent were identified as suffering from alcohol dependency; 23 percent had been homeless at some point in the previous year; and 245 percent were identified as mentally ill.

 

Veterans Treatment Courts are a mix of Drug and Mental Health Courts that use the Drug Court model to serve vets. They promote sobriety, recovery, and stability through a coordinated effort that involves cooperation and collaboration with the traditional partners found in Drug and  Mental Health courts, with additional contributions from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care networks, the Veterans’ Benefits Administration, volunteer veteran mentors, and veterans and veterans’ family support organizations.

 

For more information on Veterans Treatment Courts, go to: http://www.justiceforvets.org

 

Peter S. Gaytan is the author of For Service To Your Country – Updated Edition: The Essential Guide to Getting the Veterans’ Benefits You’ve Earned(Citadel, 2011), available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other booksellers. He has served as an advocate in securing and protecting the earned benefits of America’s veterans for more than a decade. Gaytan is the Executive Director of the American Legion, the largest veterans service organization in America.