Justice-Involved Veterans
Introduction
Among Veterans in VA health care, those with legal system involvement are at increased risk of suicide-related behavior. The suicide rate for recipients of Veterans Justice Program (VJP) services was 10.2% higher in 2021 than in 2020. VA connects with Veterans who are at various points in the legal system through Veterans Justice Program. VA is committed to advancing programs and resources that reintegrate Veterans into society, ultimately reducing this highly impacted group's risk of suicide.
What Action Has VA Taken?
Veterans Justice Outreach
VA has expanded outreach to justice-involved Veterans by expanding Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) specialist positions. These roles enable VA to support more Veteran Treatment Courts as well as conduct outreach to Veterans in more local jails and other criminal justice settings. VA has also expanded the VJO workforce by adding Peer Specialist positions dedicated to serving justice-involved Veterans with the benefit of lived experience.
Health Care for Re-Entry Veterans (HCRV) Services
These services include pre-release assessment services for Veterans in prison. It also supports referrals and linkages to medical, mental health and social services, including employment services on release and short-term case management assistance upon release.
The Veterans Re-Entry Search Service (VRSS)
VRSS is an easy-to-use tool that strengthens partnerships between criminal justice facilities and VA services by identifying Veterans within criminal justice populations. Connection to these supports significantly increases employment prospects, reduces risk of homelessness and suicide risk.
What's Next?
Legal Service Grants
New Legal Services for Homeless Veterans and Veterans At-Risk For Homelessness Grants (LSV-H) enable VA to deliver civil legal services that support access to government benefits, navigating family law, ensuring access to safe housing options, and assistance with management of debt. These issues can be stressors that contribute to suicide risk, so helping Veterans address them with legal assistance is suicide prevention.
Deflection Partnerships Training
In the Summer of 2023, VA began rolling out a national Veteran-Focused Law Enforcement Deflection and Community Partnership Training Series. This is designed to foster Veteran-focused deflection partnerships – innovative community police and first responder interventions that deflect Veterans away from contact with the criminal justice system and toward needed services. These trainings are a collaboration among VJP, Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, and VA Police and the Law Enforcement Training Center, and feature specific modules focused on suicide prevention.
Resources
Veterans Justice Outreach Program - VA Homeless Programs
Learn MoreHealth Care for Re-entry Veterans Services and Resources - VA Homeless Programs
Learn MoreLegal Services for Veterans Programs - VA Homeless Programs
Learn MorePreventing Suicide among Justice-Involved Veterans
Learn MoreVeterans Re-Entry Search Services (VRSS)
Learn More