1 / 21

Veterans Justi ce Outreach Veterans Jail Diversion Initiative

Law Enforcement | Prison| Court Outreach. Veterans Justi ce Outreach Veterans Jail Diversion Initiative. Information to be covered:. Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Initiative Background of program VJO services in Pennsylvania VA Services available to Veterans.

milos
Download Presentation

Veterans Justi ce Outreach Veterans Jail Diversion Initiative

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Law Enforcement | Prison| Court Outreach Veterans Justice OutreachVeterans Jail Diversion Initiative

  2. Information to be covered: • Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Initiative • Background of program • VJO services in Pennsylvania • VA Services available to Veterans

  3. VJO: Law Enforcement, Jail, Court Outreach VA Medical Centers must now provide outreach to justice-involved Veterans in the communities they serve. A justice-involved Veteran is: • A Veteran in contact with local law enforcement who can be appropriately diverted • A Veteran involved in adjudication or monitoring by a court • A Veteran who commits a non-violent crime and who may be better served receiving VA treatment

  4. Strategy to End Homelessness Among Veterans Outreach/ Education Treatment Prevention Income/ Employment/ Benefits Housing and Supportive Services Community Partnerships

  5. Historical • VA has been addressing the needs of the homeless Veteran population since the advent of Public Law 100-6 in 1987 • As an outgrowth, VA launched re-entry initiatives and engaged in the Justice System and Veterans Courts to address the needs of incarcerated Veterans via a homeless prevention measure • Like Veterans who are homeless and/or substance abusers, some incarcerated Veterans link their criminality and incarceration to their military service

  6. VJO – Goals • Provide treatment to Veterans involved in the justice system • Conduct outreach to Veterans while incarcerated • Engage Veterans in treatment and rehabilitation to: • Treat underlying condition that led to the commission of the crime • Prevent homelessness • Readjust to community life • Desist from commission of new crimes or parole or probation violations

  7. VJO – Services • Outreach to Veterans in treatment courts, jails, probation, pre-trial, etc. • Pre-release assessment for Veterans awaiting adjudication • Referral, diversion, linkage and advocacy to: • Medical, mental health, substance abuse, housing, employment and other benefits

  8. Duties of VJO • If a Veteran’s treatment court is established, the VJO will participate in court proceedings and assist with enrollment in VA • Conduct trainings for probation, treatment courts, police departments, etc. • Complete biopsychosocial assessment on referred Veterans (Referrals can be from community/court providers, other VA employees, self referred) • Discuss mental health needs, substance abuse history, housing, income, benefit eligibility, and legal history

  9. Duties Continued • Provide appropriate level of case management • Assist Veteran apply for VA services and treatment • Assist Veteran apply for Service Connected and Non Service Connected Pension, GI Bill and Vocational Rehabilitation as applicable • Assist Veteran with providing documentation of treatment to court, probation officer, public defender or Magisterial District Judge (MDJ) • Verification of treatment can be written or oral • Provided once an appropriate release of information is signed by Veteran

  10. VJO in Pennsylvania • Every VA has a full time or part time VJO • Veterans Courts – Allegheny, Berks, Chester, Dauphine, Delaware, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Montgomery, Northumberland, Philadelphia, Washington, and York • Planned Veterans Court – Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Lehigh, Luzerne, and Lebanon • Magisterial District Justice Diversion • Online Mentor Training

  11. Attributing Factors • PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) • Symptoms: Irritability, Nightmares, Flashbacks, Anger Outbursts, Paranoia/On Edge, Isolation, Self Medicating • Criminal Behavior: Domestic Violence, Alcohol Related Offenses (Driving Under the Influence, Public Drunkenness), Simple Assault, Aggravated Assault, “Suicide by Cop” • TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) • Symptoms: Confusion, Disorganized Thinking, Memory Issues, Irritability, Over-Reaction to “Normal” Situation • Criminal Behavior: Domestic Violence, Suicide, Disorderly Conduct, Property Offenses • Substance abuse issues, may include pain killers from combat injuries, recreational drugs and/or alcohol, self medication for PTSD/TBI

  12. Readjustment Issues • Returning back to 9-5 lifestyle. Some Veterans miss the adrenaline rush of combat. • Drive fast, Look for fights, Road rage • Family life has changed. Kids have grown and relationships with significant others may have changed drastically. Lost role within the family. • Domestic Violence, Murder/Suicide • Unable to feel “safe” unless armed. • Weapons charges, Assaults with a weapon

  13. Readjustment Issues Continued • Feelings of guilt, anger, loss of identity • I should be with my unit • Guilt of actions taken/not taken • Change from position of authority to “civilian” and often unemployed • Combat Injury- often discharged with large amount of pain medication • Can lead to drug abuse with associated charges

  14. Services offered by VA • Mental Health: • Outpatient psychology, psychiatry, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) groups, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) groups • Inpatient acute psychiatric units • Inpatient PSTD treatment, outpatient PTSD Clinical Teams, dual diagnosis PTSD and substance abuse treatment, Military Sexual Trauma treatment • Suicide Prevention Team

  15. Services Continued • Substance abuse services: • Outpatient therapy, substance abuse aftercare groups, community Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous meetings • Inpatient 21-day rehabilitation programs • 60-day community re-entry units • 6-month transitional residences • Substance abuse domiciliary units • Detox services

  16. Services Continued • Homeless Services • Outreach to homeless Veterans in the community to seek permanent housing for them • Short Term Emergency Shelter Contract Beds: an alternative to shelter placement • Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Programs • Supportive Housing • Housing and Urban Development/Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Vouchers

  17. Services Continued • Health Care Services • Primary Care Services • Dental Services for homeless Veterans enrolled in GPD and Community Re-Entry Unit • Specialty Care: Women’s Health, Traumatic Brain Injury, OEF/OIF/OND Clinics • Employment Services • Vocational Rehabilitation • Incentive Therapy/Compensated Work Therapy • Supported Employment

  18. Services the VA cannot provide: • Forensic evaluations • Testimony in court by VJOs or other VA providers as expert witnesses without Regional Council approval with subpoena • Dictation of the sentence • Legal custody of the Veteran • Treatment that is not medically/clinically necessary

  19. VJO Specialists Each VA medical center has a VJO Specialist who is a licensed, independent practitioner. These individuals liaison with: • Police (VA Police, community crisis intervention teams) • Courts (Veterans/drug/mental health courts) • Jails

  20. Questions?

More Related