title: Moving upstream: why rehabilitative justice in military discharge proceedings serves a public health interest.
abstract: The cultural divide between US military and civilian institutions amplifies the consequences of military discharge status on public health and criminal justice systems in a manner that is invisible to a larger society. Prompt removal of problematic wounded warriors through retributive justice is more expedient than lengthy mental health treatment. Administrative and punitive discharges usually preclude Department of Veterans Affairs eligibility, posing a heavy public health burden. Moving upstream--through military rehabilitative justice addressing military offenders' mental health needs before discharge--will reduce the downstream consequences of civilian maladjustment and intergenerational transmission of mental illness. The public health community can play an illuminating role by gathering data about community effect and by advocating for policy change at Department of Veterans Affairs and community levels.
authors.affiliation: Evan R. Seamone is with the US Army and the Pentagon, Washington, DC. James McGuire is with the Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Justice Programs, Washington, DC. Shoba Sreenivasan is with Greater Los Angeles-VA Healthcare System Forensic Outreach Services and USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA. Sean Clark is with the Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Justice Outreach Program. Daniel Smee is a graduate student at University of Southern California School of Social Work, Los Angeles. Daniel Dow is with Army National Guard and is District Attorney Elect, San Luis Obispo County, CA.
authors.forename: Evan R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Seamone
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McGuire
authors.forename: Shoba
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sreenivasan
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smee
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dow
mesh_terms: D003415:Crime / Q000523:psychology; D005195:Family Relations; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008603:Mental Health; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D011634:Public Health; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*