Advancing the Line: Increasing Empirical Literature on Justice-Involved Veterans

• Author: Paul A. Lucas
• Published date: 01 October 2017
• Date: 01 October 2017
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0887403416673699
• Subject Matter: Editorial Intro

Criminal Justice Policy Review

2017, Vol. 28(8) 735 –739

© The Author(s) 2016

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DOI: 10.1177/0887403416673699

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Editorial Intro

Advancing the Line:

Increasing Empirical

Literature on

Justice-Involved Veterans

Paul A. Lucas1

Abstract

American veterans have long struggled with the aftereffects of combat exposure,

repeated deployments to hostile countries, and extended time spent away from their

families and loved ones. Historically, when veterans struggling with issues such as mental

illness and substance abuse, which can be related back to their military service, came

into contact with the criminal justice system, they were processed without regard to

their unique military experience. Beginning in 2008, however, a new type of problem-

solving court, veterans’ treatment courts (VTCs), have been increasingly adopted to

target justice-involved veterans to address the distinct issues and challenges they face.

VTCs are modeled after the successful drug and mental health court models and, as

such, utilize therapeutic jurisprudence and effective intervention. However, they have

not been subjected to the same amount of scholarly attention the aforementioned

courts themselves have. This editorial introduction briefly reviews past and current

research on justice-involved veterans and calls for the continued empirical assessment

of VTCs to better understand both their impact and the military population they serve.

Keywords

veterans’ treatment courts, justice-involved veterans, problem-solving courts

American soldiers who have been involved in, and exposed to, combat and wartime

deployments have dealt with chronic psychological problems stemming from their

experiences. The first mention of such symptoms, which include mental fatigue,

1Fort Hays State University, KS, USA

Corresponding Author:

Paul A. Lucas, Department of Criminal Justice, Fort Hays State University, 233 Rarick Hall, 600 Park

Street, Hays, KS 67601-4009, USA.

Email: palucas@fhsu.edu

673699CJPXXX10.1177/0887403416673699Criminal Justice Policy ReviewLucas

research-article2016