A Longitudinal Examination of Veterans Treatment Courts’ Characteristics and Eligibility Criteria

AuthorSean Clark,Jessica Blue-Howells,Amanda Tjemsland,Joel Rosenthal,Andrea Finlay,Christine Timko,Bessie Flatley,Daniel M. Blonigen,Jim McGuire
Date01 December 2016
DOI10.1177/1525107117740087
Published date01 December 2016
Subject MatterResearch Articles
Research Article
A Longitudinal
Examination of Veterans
Treatment Courts’
Characteristics and
Eligibility Criteria
Christine Timko
1,2
, Bessie Flatley
3,4
, Amanda Tjemsland
1
,
Jim McGuire
5
, Sean Clark
4
, Jessica Blue-Howells
4
,
Daniel M. Blonigen
1,6
, Joel Rosenthal
7
and Andrea Finlay
1,3,8
Abstract
Although the number of Veterans Treatment Courts (VTCs) has been growing at a
rapid rate, thus far, VTC components have not been standardized, due in part to a lack
of empirical evidence on the extent to which components vary across VTCs
nationwide and change over time. This study analyzed data collected by the
Department of Veterans Affairs’ Veterans Justice Program, on VTCs in 2012 (n¼173
Courts), 2013 (n¼266), and 2014 (n¼351), to describe Court characteristics,
participant eligibility criteria, and Courts’ mentoring component. Despite growth in
VTC numbers, the survey found consistency over time in these aspects of VTCs.
1
Center for Innovation to Implementation (Ci2i), Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo
Park, CA, USA
2
Department of Psych iatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of M edicine, Stanford ,
CA, USA
3
Department of Vete rans Affairs, Natio nal Center on Homele ssness Among Veter ans, Philadelphia,
PA, USA
4
Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Justice Programs, Lexington, KY, USA
5
Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Justice Programs, Greater Los Angeles Health Care System–
West LA Campus, Los Angeles, CA, USA
6
Palo Alto University, Clinical Psychology Program, Palo Alto, CA, USA
7
Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Justice Programs, Menlo Park, CA, USA
8
Division of General Medical Disciplines, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine,
Stanford, CA, USA
Corresponding Author:
Christine Timko, 795 Willow Road (152-MPD), Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
Email: ctimko@stanford.edu
Justice Research and Policy
2016, Vol. 17(2) 123-136
ªThe Author(s) 2017
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DOI: 10.1177/1525107117740087
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