The Veteran`s Justice Outreach Initiative

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Law Enforcement | Prison| Court Outreach
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Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Initiative
 Background of program
 VJO services in Pennsylvania
 VA Services available to Veterans
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VA Medical Centers must now provide outreach to justiceinvolved Veterans in the communities they serve.
A justice-involved Veteran is:
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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
Outreach/
Education
Treatment
Prevention
Housing and
Supportive
Services
Income/
Employment/
Benefits
Community
Partnerships
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Intercept 1
Law
enforcement/
Emergency
Services
Sequential Intercept Model
Community
Intercept 5
Community
corrections/
Community
support
Intercept 4
Reentry
Intercept 3
Jails/Courts
Intercept 2
Initial detention/
Initial court
hearings
Local Law
Enforcement
Arrest
Initial Detention
LAW ENFORCEMENTCOURTS-JAILS:
VA Veterans Justice
Outreach (VJO)
First Appearance Court
Jail - Pretrial
Specialty Court
Dispositional Court
Jail - Sentenced
Prison
Probation
Parole
Community
PRISONS:
Health Care for Reentry
Veterans (HCRV)
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VA has been addressing the needs of the homeless
Veteran population since the advent of Public Law
100-6 in 1987
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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
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Like Veterans who are homeless and/or substance
abusers, some incarcerated Veterans link their
criminality and incarceration to their military service
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Provide treatment to Veterans involved in the
justice system
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Conduct outreach to Veterans while incarcerated
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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
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Outreach to Veterans in treatment courts,
jails, probation, pre-trial, etc.
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Pre-release assessment for Veterans awaiting
adjudication
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Referral, diversion, linkage and advocacy to:
 Medical, mental health, substance abuse,
housing, employment and other benefits
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If a Veteran’s treatment court is established, the VJO
will participate in court proceedings and assist with
enrollment in VA
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Conduct trainings for probation, treatment courts,
police departments, etc.
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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
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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
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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
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Every VA has a full time or part time VJO
Veterans Courts – Allegheny, Berks, Chester,
Delaware, Lackawanna, Montgomery,
Northumberland, Philadelphia, Washington
Planned Veterans Court – Bucks, Butler,
Cambria, Dauphin, Fayette, Lancaster,
Lehigh, Luzerne, and York
Magisterial District Justice Diversion
Online Mentor Training
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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”
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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
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Substance abuse issues, may include pain killers from combat
injuries, recreational drugs and/or alcohol, self medication for
PTSD/TBI
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Returning back to 9-5 lifestyle. Some Veterans miss
the adrenaline rush of combat.
 Drive fast, Look for fights, Road rage
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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
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Unable to feel “safe” unless armed.
 Weapons charges, Assaults with a weapon
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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
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Substance abuse services:
 Outpatient therapy, substance abuse aftercare
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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
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Homeless Services
 Outreach to homeless Veterans in the community
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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
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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
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Employment Services
 Vocational Rehabilitation
 Incentive Therapy/Compensated Work Therapy
 Supported Employment
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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
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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
Altoona
Bonnie Clark
814-943-8164 x7982
[email protected]
Butler
Bradley Schaffer
724-285-2240
[email protected]
Clarksburg
Richard Jones
304-623-3461
[email protected]
Coatesville
Kristina Wheeland
610-384-7711 x6814
[email protected]
Erie
Terrence W. Yeager
814-860-2122
[email protected]
Lebanon
Julie Bergstresser
717-272-6621 x5162
[email protected]
Philadelphia
215-823-5800X6594
215-823-5800 X3518
412.822.1409
412-822-1324
570-824-3521
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Wilkes-Barre
Rebecca Hicks
Cynthia Okore
Keather Likins
Thomas Stokes
Kim Sapolis Lacey
Wilmington
Cecilia Gonzalez
302-994-2511
[email protected]
Pittsburgh
[email protected]
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