VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS LEGISLATIVE REPORT

VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS LEGISLATIVE REPORT Public Chapter 943

Prepared by: Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 1

GROUPS/PERSONS CONTACTED BY THE AOC ..................................................................... 1

SCOPE OF REPORT....................................................................................................................... 2

DISCLAIMER ................................................................................................................................. 2

POLICY DECISIONS ..................................................................................................................... 2

WEBSITES ...................................................................................................................................... 2

INTERIM REPORT......................................................................................................................... 3

SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................. 3

WHAT IS A PROBLEM-SOLVING COURT? .............................................................................. 5

HOW DOES A VETERANS TREATMENT COURT DIFFER FROM OTHER TYPES OF PROBLEM-SOLVING COURTS? ................................................................................................. 7

HOW WERE VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS CREATED?............................................... 8

HOW ARE TENNESSEE'S COURTS CURRENTLY SERVING VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS? .................................................................................................................................... 9

POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA, TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, DEPLOYMENT STRESSORS, AND READJUSTMENT CHALLENGES .. 10

Deployment Stressors ....................................................................................................... 10 Readjustment Challenges.................................................................................................. 11 Mental Health Issues and Resources Generally ................................................................ 11 Trauma Generally ............................................................................................................. 12 Traumatic Brain Injury ..................................................................................................... 12 Military Sexual Trauma .................................................................................................... 13 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ........................................................................................... 14 Co-Occurring Disorders.................................................................................................... 15 Screenings and DOD/VA Files ......................................................................................... 15

SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES.................................................................................................... 16

Reasons for Alcohol/Drug Use ......................................................................................... 16 Recovery Challenges ........................................................................................................ 16

VARIOUS METHODS OF ASSISTING VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS ................ 18

Veterans and Service Members without Mental Health and/or Substance Abuse

Issues................................................................................................................................. 18 Incorporating Veterans and Service Members into Existing Problem-Solving Courts .... 19 Judicial Districts or Counties Which Do Not Have Existing Problem-Solving Courts .... 19 Incarceration ..................................................................................................................... 20

ISSUES WHICH MUST BE RESOLVED WHEN CREATING A VETERANS TREATMENT COURT .......................................................................................................................................... 20

What Is The Definition of "Veteran"? .............................................................................. 22 Veterans vs. Service Members.......................................................................................... 23 How Many Veterans Reside in Tennessee? ...................................................................... 24 What Procedure Should Courts Use To Identify Veterans And/Or Service Members ..... 25 Should The VTC Be Presided Over By A Trial Court Or General Sessions Court Judge? ............................................................................................................................... 26 Should The VTC Be A Pre-Adjudication Court, A Post-Adjudication Court, Or A Combination Thereof? ...................................................................................................... 27 Nature And/Or Number Of Prior And Current Criminal Offenses................................... 28 Medical Conditions........................................................................................................... 29 Relationship Between The Military Service, The Mental Health And/Or Substance Abuse Issues, And The Commission Of The Offense(s) .................................................. 29 Combat Veterans............................................................................................................... 30 Screenings ......................................................................................................................... 30 Privacy/Confidentiality/Constitutional Issues................................................................... 32 Mentors ............................................................................................................................. 33

Role of the Mentor ............................................................................................... 33 Selecting Mentors ................................................................................................ 36 Training Mentors ................................................................................................. 38 Resources ............................................................................................................. 38 Transportation ................................................................................................................... 38 Defense Counsel ............................................................................................................... 40 Program Evaluations ......................................................................................................... 40 Costs.................................................................................................................................. 41 Regional Courts ................................................................................................................ 41

COMMUNITY SUPERVISION.................................................................................................... 41

SANCTIONS AND INCENTIVES ............................................................................................... 42

VETERANS TREATMENT COURT PHASES ........................................................................... 44

Phase One ......................................................................................................................... 45 Phase Two......................................................................................................................... 46 Phase Three....................................................................................................................... 47 Graduation ........................................................................................................................ 48 Termination/Withdrawal From Program .......................................................................... 48

COSTS AND FUNDING OPTIONS............................................................................................. 48

Treatment And Screening Costs ....................................................................................... 49 Staff................................................................................................................................... 50 Miscellaneous Non-Treatment Costs ................................................................................ 51

Resource Mapping ............................................................................................................ 51 State Legislative Funding ................................................................................................. 52 Pending Federal Legislation ............................................................................................. 53 Other Funding Sources ..................................................................................................... 53 Ethical Issues .................................................................................................................... 55 Funding/Sustainability Websites ...................................................................................... 55

WHAT IS DIVERSION?............................................................................................................... 55

Pretrial Diversion .............................................................................................................. 55 Judicial Diversion ............................................................................................................. 56

PROCEDURES FOR IDENTIFYING AVAILABLE BENEFITS AND ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS ................................................................................... 57

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ............................................................................... 58

Online VA Resources ....................................................................................................... 59 VA Structure, Benefits and Eligibility Requirements Generally ...................................... 59 VA and TDVA Facilities In Tennessee ............................................................................ 60 VA Form DD-214 ............................................................................................................. 63 Veterans Health Administration ....................................................................................... 65

Telehealth and My HealtheVet ............................................................................ 67 Vet Centers and Non-VA Treatment of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Issues ........................................................................................................ 68 Veterans Benefits Administration..................................................................................... 69 National Cemetery Administration ................................................................................... 71

VETERANS' JUSTICE OUTREACH SPECIALISTS................................................................. 71

INCARCERATED AND HOMELESS VETERANS ................................................................... 72

MISCELLANEOUS STATE, FEDERAL AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES ......................... 73

Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development........................................ 73 Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services ........................ 74 Tennessee Department of Correction................................................................................ 74 Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole ....................................................................... 75 Tennessee Reentry Collaborative ..................................................................................... 76 Tennessee Criminal Justice Coordinating Council ........................................................... 77 Tennessee Military Department / Tennessee National Guard........................................... 77 Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs ...................................................................... 78 Governor's Council for Armed Forces, Veterans, and Their Families ............................. 78 Office of the Judge Advocate General.............................................................................. 79 United States Executive Branch........................................................................................ 79 Disabled American Veterans ............................................................................................ 79 Bar Associations, Legal Aid Societies, Law School Clinics ............................................ 79 Policy Research Associates, Inc. ...................................................................................... 80 National Coalition of Homeless Veterans......................................................................... 81 Operation Stand Down...................................................................................................... 81

National Alliance on Mental Illness ................................................................................. 82 National Veterans Technical Assistance Center ............................................................... 82 Goodwill Industries International, Inc. ............................................................................. 83 American Red Cross ......................................................................................................... 83 Colleges and Universities ................................................................................................. 83 Coaching Into Care ........................................................................................................... 83 Mental Health First Aid USA ........................................................................................... 83 Give An Hour.................................................................................................................... 84

INFORMATIONAL RESOURCES, EMAIL GROUPS AND TRAININGS ............................... 84

Trainings ........................................................................................................................... 85 Miscellaneous Websites.................................................................................................... 85 Presentations ..................................................................................................................... 86

CONTACT INFORMATION........................................................................................................ 86

APPENDIX A: HB3394 FISCAL NOTE SUPPORT FORM SUBMITTED BY AOC

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