title: Examining implementation and preliminary performance indicators of veterans treatment courts: The Kentucky experience.
abstract: Veterans' Treatment Courts (VTCs) are posited as a solution to offer rehabilitation for veterans involved in the criminal justice system. Despite the pervasive implementation of VTCs, there is little research focused specifically on VTC implementation and outcomes, which are based on other problem-solving court models such as drug court. The current study presents qualitative process evaluation data from key stakeholders (n=21) and veteran participants (n=4) to show accomplishments, challenges, and lessons learned during first-year implementation at two VTC sites. Quantitative performance data is also presented on veteran participants (n=19) served during the first year to show: types of services, monitoring, judicial interaction, sanctions/therapeutic responses, and rewards, as well as preliminary data on recidivism. Qualitative data, from both key stakeholders and veteran participants, suggests that offering rehabilitation via various program components, services/referrals, and accountability are critical to the success of the VTC. Data also provides valuable lessons learned for VTC implementation including communication, collaboration, information/protocols, and resources. Performance data shows that a variety of services are utilized and that frequent judicial interaction, drug testing, and sanctions are cornerstones of the VTC. Implications and future directions for research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Morehead State University, Sociology, Social Work, and Criminology, United States. Electronic address: l.shannon@moreheadstate.edu.
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Shannon
authors.affiliation: Morehead State University, Sociology, Social Work, and Criminology, United States.
authors.forename: Shira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Birdwhistell
authors.affiliation: Morehead State University, Sociology, Social Work, and Criminology, United States.
authors.forename: Shelia K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Hulbig
authors.affiliation: Morehead State University, Sociology, Social Work, and Criminology, United States.
authors.forename: Afton Jackson
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Morehead State University, Sociology, Social Work, and Criminology, United States.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Newell
authors.affiliation: Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts, United States.
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Payne
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003416:Criminal Law / Q000379:methods*; D057237:Criminals; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007629:Kentucky; D012424:Rural Population; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014505:Urban Population; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Accountability; Camaraderie; Communication; Mentoring; Problem-solving courts; Veterans’ treatment court