title: An analysis of successful outcomes and associated contributing factors in veterans' court.
abstract: This study aims to examine the extent to which a veteran's propensity for arrest following separation from veterans' court is associated with that veteran's length of stay within the program, type of discharge, or number of judicial sanctions issued. This is a retrospective chart review that focuses on the first 100 participants in the Harris County Veterans' Court Program. After controlling for a number of demographic factors, both arrests during enrollment in the veterans' court program (p = .031) and Factor Score 1 (unsuccessful discharge, fewer months in the veterans' court program, and more months of follow up) (p = .042) were predictive of arrest following separation from the veterans' court program. In addition, a prior diagnosis of opiate misuse was also predictive of arrest following separation (p < .001). Given these findings, veterans' court judges and program administrators might examine ways of continuing enrollment for veterans at highest risk for recidivism.
authors.affiliation: 1 Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, Mental Health Care Line, Houston, Texas, and a resident at the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: R Scott
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: 2 Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, and Medical Director, Veterans' Court Treatment Program.
authors.forename: Andrea G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Stolar
authors.affiliation: 3 Student in the Baylor College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: 4 Veterans Justice Outreach Coordinator, Michael E. DeBakey Medical Center.
authors.forename: Loretta A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Coonan
authors.affiliation: 5 Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center; Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine; Neurorehabilitation: Neurons to Networks Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center; and the South Central Mental Illness, Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Department of Veterans Affairs.
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Graham
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000066479:Criminal Behavior; D057237:Criminals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*