Since 1996, the month of November has been dedicated to acknowledging the service and sacrifice of members of the military and their families. The Armed Services YMCA and the U.S. government established the entire month as National Veterans and Military Families Month, in recognition of the supporting roles that spouses, children, and caregivers provide to military members.
History
The formal honoring of U.S. members of the military and veterans began in 1919 with the first annual commemoration of Armistice Day on Nov. 11, the day in which a temporary ceasefire ended World War I. Congress adopted a resolution in 1926, calling on the president to issue an annual proclamation for the national observance of Nov. 11. Act 52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a was passed in 1938, designating the day as a legal holiday to honor the veterans of WWI. In 1954, following World War II, “Armistice Day” became “Veterans Day” to honor American veterans of all wars. In addition to Veterans Day and National Veterans and Military Families Month, some cities celebrate Veterans Week, either in the week leading up to or the week following Nov. 11.
Intersectionality of Military Members and the Legal System
According to the Disabled American Veterans, there are nearly 20 million veterans in the United States, each of whom have been impacted by their service. Veterans and their family members experience challenges adjusting to the civilian world, navigating and accessing their benefits, and dealing with the emotional and physical toll of service. Veterans are more likely to encounter the criminal justice system than non-veterans and they are twice as likely to be incarcerated or experience homelessness. There is documented evidence that veterans have higher rates of mental illness, suicide, and substance use disorders. For those with traumatic brain injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), being in jail or prison can trigger a combat-like survival mode, which results in institutional misconduct and solitary confinement.
Unfortunately, there is little research on the risks and needs of this population and how this impacts their successful reintegration into society. Understanding the unique experiences and needs of this population is critical to implementing policies and programs to support the individuals who have put their life on the line to protect our freedoms.
Promising Practices
Veterans Treatment Courts. Modeled after drug courts, which are a collaborative, less adversarial response to law violations, veterans treatment courts hold individuals accountable while supporting their rehabilitation and recovery from mental health and substance use disorders. While a comprehensive national assessment of these programs has not yet been conducted, some preliminary studies indicate that participants in these courts have better housing and employment outcomes compared to veterans processed through the traditional legal system. In Pennsylvania, for instance, 81 percent of participants successfully graduated from a veterans treatment court. Expanding the availability of these courts and their service coordination with local Veterans Affairs (VA) agencies can disrupt the cycle of substance abuse and criminal activity among this population.
Veteran Specific Housing in Jails/Prisons. Specialized housing for this population can encourage peer support and reduce the likelihood of PTSD-based survival behaviors while incarcerated. Though these housing units have not been rigorously studied, providing specific institutional resources to help veterans engage in rehabilitative programming while incarcerated, become job ready, and apply for benefits before their release, can smooth the transition to the community and improve reentry outcomes.
Additional Recommendations. There have been notable efforts to recognize and respond to the role that military service may play in the commission of crime. However, there is still much work to be done to support the men and women who serve their country. According to the Veterans Justice Commission, lawmakers and stakeholders should be urged to consider the following:
- Prioritize recruiting and hiring of justice-involved veterans
- Provide VA health care to incarcerated veterans
- Eliminate barriers to housing eligibility and prevent benefits arrearages
- Evaluate and develop best practices for veterans housing units
- Develop “second look” sentencing review process for military members
Conclusion
As the month of November and the national observance of Veterans and Military Families Month draws to a close, it is important to recognize the support that veterans and their families deserve for their sacrifice and service. Some people who enlist have prior life experiences that make them more likely to end up in the criminal justice system; others may develop service-related risk factors that increase their chances of becoming entangled in the legal system. This population is unique not only because of their various risks and needs but also because they elected to put their lives on the line for the rest of us and our country. In order to support military members and their families, it is critical that veteran-specific, evidence-based programs, policies, and practices be made widely available for the individuals that come into our legal system. Our communities are safer and our veterans and their families are more successful when they are supported in recognition of their service.
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