More than 180,000 Veterans are incarcerated in jails and prisons throughout the country. In response to this population’s unique needs, many jurisdictions have implemented Veteran-specific diversion opportunities and services; however, these services are often underutilized. In order to support Veterans with justice involvement, it’s important for correctional institutions and courts to have a strong understanding of the various services that are available to Veterans as well as how these supports can be accessed.
In Part 1 of the “Supporting Veterans in the Criminal Justice System” webinar series, speakers from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will provide an overview of the services that exist to support Veterans involved with the criminal justice system. They will discuss strategies for identifying Veterans within the jail population, and the referral process for connecting Veterans to the appropriate services and resources. The audience will also learn about the role of a Veterans Justice Outreach Specialist, and ways to leverage their support to address the needs of justice-involved Veterans whether they are involved in a Veterans Treatment Court or a more traditional treatment court setting.