Veterans Treatment Courts: A Review of Related Literature and Program Description
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This article provides a review of related literature and program description of Veterans Treatment Courts. It discusses the problem statement, objectives, and methods used in the study. It also covers the subject of mental health disorders among veterans and the effectiveness of VTCs in addressing them.
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Running head:VETERANS TREATMENT CourtS1 VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS [Author Name(s), First M. Last, Omit Titles and Degrees] [Institutional Affiliation(s)] Author Note [Include any grant/funding information and a complete correspondence address.]
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VETERANS TREATMENT CourtS2 AGENDA Problem Statement 1.A. Statement of the problem and its significance. 2.B. Specific objectives of proposed research. Review 3.A. Brief review of related literature 4.B. Program description (logic model, theoretical/conceptual framework). 5.C. Research Questions and hypotheses 6.D. Operational definitions of major concepts/variables Methods 7.A. Study design - including type of evaluation (process, outcome, or needs 8.assessment and rationale). 9.B. Sampling procedures. 10.C. Data collection sources, methods, and instruments. 11.D. Data analysis plan (Required). 12.E. Ethical considerations. 13.a. Study bias and other analyses important to minority cultural, ethnic, and racial groups, women, gay and lesbian persons and other oppressed populations. 14.b. Provisions for protection of human subjects Limitations References
VETERANS TREATMENT CourtS3 PROBLEM STATEMENT Statement of the problem and its significance Veteran treatment courts were set up to reach to the veterans that are connected to the criminal justice system. There are many funded ways of dealing with crime, mental illness, trauma, and even substance abuse among the veterans in The U.S.A. as well as globally. However, with the recent set-up of V.T.C.s (Veteran Treatment Courts), there has been a high registration of veterans for treatment. The VTCs are specialized courts of the high courts that deal with helping the veterans achieve full well-being of both mind and body and thus they work in partnership with the mental health courts, domestic violence courts, and even drug courts. The VTC jurisdictions dockets are transferred to the VTC in cases where there are veteran dockets. Should an offending veteran opt for the VTC program, the VTCs is able to link the treatments and services during the incarceration period. However, even with recent improvements made in the organizations to ease the lives of veterans as they exist confinement or while still in imprisonment, there is still few veterans requesting or trying to join the system. This has caused the question why and what needs to be done to improve the situation. This would help in improving the system to serve the veterans better and enroll more veterans. Main objectives of VTC The main aim of the VTC is to make non-traditional of the traditional criminal justice system through provision of medicine and services. The services are inclusive and not limited to counselling for mental health implicated clients, treatment for drug abuse and provision of services for housing. Specific Objectives of the VTC To understand the correlation between the health issues to the crime in bid
VETERANS TREATMENT CourtS4 To fulfill the third aim which is to reduce the future crime and eliminate the contact of crime with the system. REVIEW Brief review of related literature From various research conducted, there are various issues and also needs that crop up during military survives or even training. Taking into consideration for OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom), OEF ( Operation Enduring Freedom) and OND (Operation New Dawn), there has been concern that close to 40% of the veterans who return have psychological and even neurological injuries that are caused by post-traumatic stress disorders commonly abbreviated as PTSD and TBI (Traumatic brain injury). There have been over 348,000 veterans who have diagnosed with TBI. These are twice as much as the as the cases reported during the traumatic experiences seen in the Vietnam War. In order to cope with the events that take place in wars, many of the veterans have been known to ingest drugs beyond the recommended dosages and even abuse narcotics and illegal drugs. There are over 40% of veterans who suffer from alcoholism and the cases have increased over time. Causes of Mental Health Disorders (PTSD) With increase in PTSD cases, the higher the rates of drug abuse. Many people suffering from mental illnesses have been documented to evade health facility care and opting to self- medicate so as to keep recognition away from themselves. More to that, there is an array of choices of signature substances which is the abuse of opioids to gather with alcohol that has been notably seen amongst OIF/OEF/ OND veterans together with the military personnel. These events and life choices will eventually lead the veteran to unemployment, incarceration, homelessness and even suicide. The consequential events are usually co-related and cause
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VETERANS TREATMENT CourtS5 concern by the public as well as the government concerning the present situation of the military and veterans as well as the future of those interested in joining the military(Baldwin J. , 2016). Program Description Theoretical Framework The concern has been the veterans that take up administrative roles and more so to males who face even much more worse situations like homelessness or a combination of psychological and PTSD. Most of the resultative events that follow the two issues facing the veterans lead to violent behavior, which can be both illegal and hostile as well. This raises their rate of being imprisoned for wrongful legally unaccepted acts. Self-medication goes a long way in worsening the condition(Blonigen, 2017). VETERANS …..... Issues facing Veterans ….... (PTSD, Homelessness) …....... Imprisonment …..... Longer terms in confinement. Conceptual Framework Creating a system where each veteran facing psychological and physical traumas can be quite hard. This is due to the fact that veteran information can be highly classified due to the nature of the kind of work that they do and tasks and missions that they were involved in. If in the wrong hands or information decrypted by the wrong people, it would bring about national security issues. As per 2009 Maricopa country inmate population analysis, 6.3% of the persons jailed were in one way or the other connected to the military. More than 10% people were in the federal prisons once worked with or for the U.S. government military. With every single passing year, the number of inmates with a military history rose and this caused and still causes concern for not only the officials in Maricopa country but the entire country as well(Baldwin J. , 2016).
VETERANS TREATMENT CourtS6 Veterans Issues ...... Collecting information …..... Creating awareness ….....Taking in more veterans to the VTC system. Operational definitions of major concepts/variables METHODS Study design The VTC tries to reach out to as many veterans as it can by performing various researches through the other existing courts so as to gain knowledge and understanding of the specialized needs of the veterans and the type of specialized responses that may be accessible to offer the best services to them. Through the specialized courts that handle legal affairs and extra- legal issues relating to a veteran that can’t be solved in the normal courts, they are able to identify the key issues that affect the veterans and influence them to go rogue and also be able to protect the general public at the same time. This means that the VTC and other specialized courts go an extra mile than just determining the guilt or innocence of the accused. This means that they get extra care and attention in order to reform them should they be incarnated for their wrong actions. They get the chance to deal with traumatic pasts through help of specialized personnel (Blonighen, 2016). Sampling Methods In normal court rooms, veterans or any other person may suffer from more emotional and psychological traumas through the process of delivery of the jurisdiction. This is due to the fact that there are many people involved in the process of delivery of justice. The accusers, the jury, the defenders and the audience. All these parties can act as triggers for the veteran and worsen his or her mental condition. Similarly, the process of delivery of justice involves a lot of legal frameworks that can be quite rigorous.
VETERANS TREATMENT CourtS7 Data collection sources, methods, and instruments Therefore, a more subtle and calmer environment is good for the veteran to recover and gain new perspective about life and move forward with a more positive attitude. The key goal of the VTC and specialized courts is to make the legal process more therapeutic than judgmental for the accused party. More to that, courts like drug courts are set up with a mission to restore the health of the veteran where the emotional instability of the accused is combated with daily small doses of facts that impact their lives immensely. The process can be quite tedious and long but still, the purpose of the courts is to stick along in the journey to assure embedding of the facts within the accused(Blonighen, 2016). The methodology of dealing with the accusations doesn’t revolve on a theory but more so on the reactions certain problems cause and how best to deal with the challenges that one may face while trying to find a suitable yet sustainable solution to an issue. The VTCs try to be at the front lane in handling the issues while in incarceration in order for them to attain the right kind of medication and more so improve on the services offered and how they are delivered(Clark, 2014). Insurance coverage However, the veterans in full access of all the services that VTCs have to offer. This is due to a few yet important barriers that exist and pull blocks to the mission of the VTCs. The first and major concern is the impending blocks to obtaining insurance coverages. At the same time, due to lack of enough understanding and knowledge about mental health, the stigma to person’s especially military people seeking help for mental health issues is still a stigma related issue. Most of the veterans suffering from mental issues still go to the mental health department so as to gain treatment(Finlay K. A.-H., 2016).
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VETERANS TREATMENT CourtS8 Legalities There is also the issue of too many legalities and paper work that see are inclusive of discharge status, the period of military service, the years active and number of completed tasks as well as absence of felony warrants. There are determinations made ranging from zero involvement in felonies and there can be an extension on the amount of time one is incarnated or paroled. This makes the VTCs program a bit inaccessible and the adder part is the contribution of influence of infrastructure and societal belief and law from giving the veteran the right kind of medical assistance which isn’t provided by the healthcare(Finlay K. A.-H., 2016). Stigma More just inaccessibility the issue of veteran resistance to accepting the condition let alone agreeing to receive mental health care, the negativity of perceptions and action directly contributes to making a fearful person suffering from mental issues more irritated and especially when it comes to those suffering from the conditions. Conditions like depression, anxiety and depression amongst others tend to bring about more criticism and more so cause obstruction of healthcare given to those suffering from the illness. There is also the case of the media and reports that create light of the institution and yet also causes horrible review due to over merging of both activities. Articles have sought to clearly explain what VTC is and even more so provide information on the importance of VTC and how the people perceive it and how it performs in different parts of the country(Finlay K. A.-H., 2016). Data Analysis Plan Effectiveness of the VTC Key measures
VETERANS TREATMENT CourtS9 Their development has yet to be realized in even ascertained due to the lag period between the emergence of the VTCs, examination of the problem and the understanding of the different courts and their functions. Through analytical methods like surveys and proper spacing of the survey elements, several variables could be determined in the understanding and handling of VTC related issues. A population is another measure that has been taken to bringing the VTCs closer to the veterans and having them address as many issues as they can. Other measures that have been taken is the data collection and also sampling the results though emails, texts and mails. These serve the purpose of pushing the survey with ease of access, having frequent reminders, persuasion of use of the responses, provision of rewards and extension of duration of operations. Statistics of the effectiveness of VTCs Statistics at the Veterans Affairs (VA) place the veteran count in the whole country at 7391 with over 400 VTCs and yet only 115 of the veterans dared to go in a VTC facility between 2011 and 2015. This contributed to statistics that place 10% of the participants owning their won houses, 14% facing a new term of incarceration and over 13 percent receiving benefits with a small percentage being in work as well. All these were noted as the contributing factors to mental illness triggers. VTCs are well within means to have a lasting impact on the veterans enough for them to quite on their hopelessness. The VTCs use most of their time in forging new alliances with the veterans so as to offer treatments. The VTC supports the Veteran affairs and also the Justice Outreach through department of veteran affairs. The VJO determine the eligibility of the Veterans for treatment after analyzing several factors(Finlay K. A.-H., 2016). ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS Study Bias
VETERANS TREATMENT CourtS10 The eligibility criteria usually varies across other jurisdictions and thus accused parties are accepted to the system even with their past charges. There tends to be more concertation on felonies and acts of misdemeanor at certain percentages. The purpose of the Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) seeks to provide incarceration options that seek to control costs. They do so by selecting the victims in the incarceration facilities who have a history of mental health issues. In 2010-2012, over 36,000 veterans were able to visit the VJO specialists with over 45 years and above of men and 35 years of for women, there was more involvement from theWhite Americans, Black Americans, Singles, and Divorced Americans respectively. Among the disorders addresses include anxiety disorder, bipolar, personality, cannabis use, cocaine use, alcohol use and depressive disorders among many others. The many that were signed into the VJP program, most were diagnosed with mental health disorders with most having substance abuse disorder as well. The mental health clinics have helped in lessening the mental health treatment. With over 59% of deaths in prisons accounted to abuse of opioids, there is need to explore pharmacotherapy therapy among many other options to deal with the disorders. The medicine are cost-effective in reducing drug and substance abuse and incarceration illegal activities(Finlay K. A.-H., 2016). LIMITATIONS It’s difficult to have these sort of therapy addressed while persons are in jail and thus, the best form taken is to address the issues while the persons in are in prisons. Patients who have referrals in the past have been shown to have higher odds of delayed admission into the program after release from prison. Using veteran Health administration records diagnosis for veterans is enabled. There were a total of over 46 thousand patients that were diagnosed with mental disorders among which there were over 4,000 veterans that were involved with justice involved
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VETERANS TREATMENT CourtS11 pharmacotherapy for a period of over one year. Using qualitative research using different methodologies, with more efforts being taken to increase the reach of medications and education of off staff to conduct the medication process. Research has shown that Black American Veterans has lower odds of receiving pharmaco therapeutic therapy for mental disorders as women to men amongst other concerns. There is also limitations into specification of the VHA treatment at facilities as some of the veterans are unable to receive full treatment. This data is in correlation to the Department of Veteran affairs and the (SUDQERI) Substance use disorder quality enhancement research initiative(Finlay K. A.-H., 2015). Another program bombarded by limitations id the street outreach program as engagement with homeless individuals is not that well understood in terms of extent of homelessness and reasons behind the homelessness. The program is very hands on and involves face to face interactions with the needy and is often time consuming and also quite difficult to deal with emotionally and physically. Mentally disable veterans often prefer to stay in the streets where their freedom isn’t limited like the shelters and service agencies where they are taken to. Through point in time counts, the department of veteran affairs is able to determine the success and failure of the program through methodologies like data sources from facilities such as home for the gaged facilities, home management and evaluation systems, government agencies. They determine how effective the program is in handling the issues of the homeless veterans and the status of the veteran homeless persons. Also, there is the one on one assessment interviews that focuses more on the historical parts of the veterans’ state of homelessness and even health. There is more consideration into matters of age, gender, marital status, race, years of service in the military and also education years. They also take an intensive look into the family set up of the veterans and how they influence the state of veterans’ homelessness and loss of housing. The
VETERANS TREATMENT CourtS12 years of homelessness are also a big contributing factors to the state of mental health of a veteran as well as the physical state of well-being(Glynn, 2016). The issue that follows is how well the veterans are able to cope with traumatic life scaring experiencing among them being sexual trauma, repeated involvement in wars and also the experience in jail in the country and also outside the country. Programs such as Health Care for Recent Veterans (HCRV) programs reach out to the veterans in prison before they are able to get out so as to control and prevent homelessness and ease transition into their new life roles. They assist veterans who suffer from self-identity issues and facilitate the connection of services to the veterans. The key issues that are highly concentrated on are patients’ characteristics like age and gender and mental health and substance use disorder diagnosis from the inpatient and outpatient visits at the health care. Follow ups of treatments for pre and post diagnosis of mental health disorders for both abuse of drugs and other illnesses are counted for in the analysis that determines a patents eligibility for VA(Glynn, 2016). With over 10% of veterans involved with the criminal justice system and with more incarcerated in jail and abusing drugs and suffering from various disorders due to the drug abuse, there is need for an in-depth analysis. The analysis takes a deep look into the factors inhibiting the treatment access to the justice involved veterans before and after incarcerations as well as the measures being taken to handle the said barriers. Among the said restricting factors include stigma at both individual and institutional levels as well, the co-occurring disorder, lack of awareness for the treatment, competing basic needs, lack of awareness of the service eligibility and insufficiency of treatment services and medication. All these add to the patients’ trauma and contribute to states like homelessness and also violence from mental disorders(Smelson, 2015).
VETERANS TREATMENT CourtS13 Solutions to the Challenges The issues are addressed through: For stigma, it’s important to reframe the cognitive mindset and ensure that a patient is confident in themselves and able to ensure effectiveness of the health treatments for the mental disorders through educating the patient in dealing with the conditions and also getting their families to pull in physical and more so moral support. It’s also necessary to incorporate an integrated system of care where the health care providers and the imprisonment facilities relate data that influences treatment outcome through coordinated care and sustained care for services following the intensive treatment of the illnesses(Clark, 2014). It’s also means that motivational strategies can be employed to enhance motivation of the veterans in being more aware of the conditions one may have in their situation and how best to cope and deal with them. Through screening programs it easy to identify how fast the veterans are coping with the programs. There is also use of flexible interventions and house assistance to address intensive care concerns that have competing needs. Connecting the veterans to resources also help in the long term healing of the conditions and acceptability of life as it to better fit in the environment. Lastly, tailoring the care given to veterans helps in bridging criminal justice and health care systems in addressing the insufficiency of treatment. This helps in avoiding unnecessary incarceration of veterans as it employs the interception model(Glynn, 2016). CONCLUSION Though there are great strides that have been made by the VTCs and the VHA programs, it’s still clear from the low turnout of veterans in the VTCs that there is still a he gap to fill through addressing the issues of perception against the VTCs and also addressing stigmatizations
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VETERANS TREATMENT CourtS14 among other issues. Enhancing awareness of the courts to the veterans will help in solving the challenges preventing VTCs from reaching the veterans.
VETERANS TREATMENT CourtS15 REFERENCES Ahlin, M. E. (2015). Military Socialization: A Motivating Factor for Seeking Treatment in a Veterans’Treatment Court.Southern Criminal Justice Association, 1-14. Baldwin, J. (2016). Investigating the programmatic attack: A national survey of veterans treatment courts.The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, 105(3), 705 -750. Baldwin, M. J. (2015). Healing the Wounds: An Examination of Veterans Treatment Courts in the Context of Restorative Justice.Criminal Justice Policy Review, 26, 1-25. Blonigen, M. D. (2017). The Availability and Utility of Services to Address Risk Factors for Recidivism Among Justice-Involved Veterans.Criminal Justice Review, 28(8), 1-24. Blonighen, M. D. (2016). Risk of Recidivism Among Justice-Involved Veterans: A Systematic Review of the Literature.Criminal Justice Review, 1-26. Clark, S. M.-H. (2014). WHAT CAN FAMILY COURTS LEARN FROM VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS?FAMILY COURT REVIEW, 52(3), 2-8. Finlay, K. A.-H. (2015). Use of Veterans Health Administration Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment After Exiting Prison: The Health Care for Reentry Veterans Program.Crossmark: Adm Policy Ment Health, 1-11. Finlay, K. A.-H. (2016). Receipt of pharmacotherapy for opioid use disorder by justice-involved U.S. Veterans Health Administration patients.United States Department of Veterans Affairs, 1-5. Finlay, K. A.-H. (2016). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Justice Outreach Program: Connecting Justice-Involved Veterans with Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment.Criminal Justice Policy Review, 27, 1-20.
VETERANS TREATMENT CourtS16 Glynn, H. L. (2016). Facilitating Treatment Access and Engagement for Justice Involved Veterans with Substance Use Disorders. .Criminal Justice Policy Review, 138-160. Health, C. M. (2014). A Specialized Treatment Court for Veterans with Trauma Exposure: Implications for the Field.Knusden, J., Kruig., Wingfield Scott, 1-14. Jewell D. Jeremy., R. P. (2016). The Long Term Effectiveness of Drug Treatment Court on Reducing Recidivism and Predictor of Voluntary Withdrawal.Int J Ment Health Addiction, 1-12. Knuden, J. K. (2014). A Specialized Treatment Court for Veterans with Trauma Exposure: Implications for the Field.Community Mental Health Journal, 1-9. Smelson, A. D. (2015). An Alternative to Incarceration: Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment Intervention for Justice-Involved Veterans.Wordld Medical and Health Policy, 1-20. Tsai, J. F. (2017). A National Study of Veterans Treatment Court Participants: Who Benefits and Who Recidivates.Adm Policy Ment Health, 1-9. Tsai, J. F. (2017). Diversion of Veterans With Criminal Justice Involvement to Treatment Courts: Participant Characteristics and Outcomes.Articles, 375-383. Tsai, J. W. (2014). Street Outreach and Other Forms of Engagement with Literally Homeless Veterans.Project Muse, 1-12. Yerramsetti, P. A. (2017). Veteran treatment courts: A promising solution.Special Issue Article, 1-11.