Veterans & Justice
- Delbert Grush
- Jul 9
- 8 min read
Updated: Jul 13
A Look at Veteran Treatment Courts in the U.S.
Since the first Veterans Treatment Court was established in Buffalo, New York, in 2008, the VTC model has grown into a vital part of a justice-involved veteran’s pathway to rehabilitation. Today, there are over 600 across the country. These courts recognize that former service members often carry invisible wounds, PTSD, moral injury, traumatic brain injuries, substance use disorders, among other factors that may contribute to criminal behavior.
What Are VTCs? Structure, Staffing, and Funding
Modeled after drug and mental health courts, VTC's are specialty dockets that offer an alternative to traditional prosecution. Participants enter a court-supervised program that integrates:
Treatment programming: For substance use, housing, and employment.
Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO): VA Specialists who coordinate further services
Mentorship: Veterans volunteering to assist their peers.
Interdisciplinary teams: Judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, probation officers, VJO staff, treatment providers, and case managers.
The start-up and operation of VTC's typically rely on federal grants and community partnerships. Under the Justice for Vets initiative, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and National Training & Technical Assistance Center are key national supporters. Locals may also draw from state budgets, VA funding, and nonprofit contributions.
Efficacy & Outcomes: What We Know (and Don’t Yet Know)
National projections show promising results:
Over 22,000 veterans in VTCs (2011–2015) showed 10% increases in housing stability and receipt of VA benefits; 14% experienced new incarceration, lower than typical recidivism rates.
In Arizona, studies report a recidivism rate of only 14% among VTC participants, compared to 23–46% in traditional courts.
Other studies suggest small positive gains in mental health and functioning among graduates.
However, limitations remain:
Data often tracks only successful participants, neglecting those who struggle or drop out of the program.
Sample sizes remain small; few large-scale randomized evaluations exist.
Tracking and follow-up after graduation are inconsistent; some courts report no participant data after completion.
Voices from the Field
To understand these courts more deeply, Veterans & Justice interviewed three experts whose lives bring unique insight.
Eric Sowers
A U.S. Army combat veteran and current PhD candidate, Eric’s journey from legal difficulties to policy advocacy in Columbus, Ohio, embodies the VTC ethos. “VTCs aren’t a handout, they’re a lifeline when conventional punishment ignores deeper issues,” he says. Eric speaks of community-funded efforts and how he has helped launch some of Ohio’s first VTC dockets in Delaware and Franklin County. He adds, “Real change begins when veterans with lived experience, like Manny and I, have a seat at the decision-making tables.”
His work on legislation aims to secure better funding and standardized data collection, a pressing need given the inconsistent tracking protocols across jurisdictions.
Manny Gomez
A former Navy combat veteran and now DSW student, Manny was sentenced to a decade in prison after his military service. Today, he’s a Veteran Service Officer in Los Angeles, guiding veterans through the VTC system: “Had this existed when I got out, things could’ve been different.” He works closely with nonprofit Justice for Vets and LA County’s VJO outreach efforts.
Manny points out two key gaps: small sample sizes and cherry-picked success reports. VTCs typically publish graduation and recovery stats but seldom examine the cases that fail. Manny emphasizes that coordinated VA clinical care must take precedence over court-led clinical services, a subtle but critical distinction.
Emery Knudtson
Retired from law enforcement and licensed as a mental health provider, Emery volunteers in Salt Lake City's VTC. He describes the model’s holistic approach: “The court, VA, mentor, and therapist form a surround‑sound of support.” He witnesses Utah’s peer-mentor training, but notes that some challenges may remain, especially when budgets are tight.
Despite limitations, Emery remains optimistic, sharing how state-level advocacy led to a bill in Nebraska expanding statewide VTC eligibility. He adds, “Systems don’t heal by accident, they function when hard and honest conversations are at the forefront, including the excluded.”
James Zima James completed Indiana’s Veteran Treatment Court (VTC) after a minor charge, a moment he describes as both humiliating and exhausting. The charge, though a misdemeanor, spiraled into a long list of mandated tasks, court dates, and required programming, adding burdens for someone already managing a full-time job and the ongoing stress of post-military life. “The structure kept me on track, and I can’t deny that it helped stabilize parts of my life, but the relationships felt more like an obligation than anything,” Zima said, reflecting on his experience. He expressed gratitude for the court's compassion but questioned whether the program nurtures the kind of camaraderie and understanding veterans are promised. “I followed through because I had to. There’s a difference between compliance and connection, and I think the court missed that,” he added. For Zima, the process felt more like a system to navigate than a community. Michael Case Michael attended a VTC in Ohio, but he remains skeptical about its effectiveness and personal impact. After facing a driving charge, he complied with the court's requirements, attending treatment sessions, reporting regularly, and completing service hours, but walked away feeling unchanged. “I did everything they asked, but I walked out feeling like the same person.” Case said. For him, the program felt procedural, lacking the depth or support he had heard about. “It’s hard to call something successful when it feels like a punishment dressed up as help. I didn’t feel rehabilitated, just processed.” Though his record reflects completion, Case questions the system due to the issues veterans face.
Ongoing Challenges & Grassroots Calls to Action
From our interviews, several recurring themes emerged:
Limited sample sizes: skew metrics. Many jurisdictions track fewer than 100 participants annually, making generalizing difficult.
Reporting bias: winners are celebrated; failures stay silent. Courts tend to highlight graduates (their successes), not dropouts (their failures).
Uneven funding and data infrastructure: not all courts have access to reliable tracking technology, mentorship programs, or VA partners.
Clinical care vs. court care confusion: Veterans need robust clinical services from the VA; courts should coordinate, not supplant, those systems.
Legislation, such as Nebraska’s new statewide VTC law, modeled on recommendations from the Veterans Justice Commission, chaired by Chuck Hagel and Leon Panetta, could offer replicable frameworks for other states to follow.
Funding the Model
Federal investment via the BJA and VA’s VJO Specialists sustains many VTCs. The Justice for Vets initiative, under All Rise, provides training, mentorship resources, and national standards. Local support varies; counties with committed leaders, nonprofits, and philanthropic partners (like those in Columbus under Eric’s influence) have seen success. But some caution against overreliance on short-term grants; sustainable funding models are critical.
What the Research Says
While VTC outcomes are promising, independent research underscores the need for a strong data infrastructure:
A national VA study (N=7,931 participants) showed improvements in housing, benefits, and modest recidivism reduction; employment gains remained stagnant.
A survey of 79 courts showed nearly half had no formal evaluation protocol; only a quarter had an external review; 32% failed to track graduates’ post-completion.
Scholars note that the evidence is urgent but thin, calling for randomized or multi-site trials to validate its impact.
Best Practices and Future Directions
From interviews, documents, and research, a brighter outline emerges:
Standardize data collection across all courts for: graduation rates, recidivism, VA benefit usage, housing, employment, and mental health.
Require follow-up tracking: beyond graduation. Success isn’t just passing, it’s long-term stability and continuity of care.
Fund peer mentor spots and programs within VTCs: The Veterans Justice Outreach and Justice for Vets frameworks should be based on them.
Separate clinical responsibilities: Courts should coordinate, not replace, VA care. This ensures veterans receive qualified, timely treatment.
Support legislative frameworks: such as Nebraska’s statewide statute. Uniform laws ease expansion.
Secure stable funding: combining federal, state, philanthropic, and private streams for sustainable growth.
The Florida Capitol is a symbol of state policy, where decisions are made that shape the lives of veterans, citizens, and communities across the Sunshine State.
From the Frontlines
Eric Sowers emphasizes the necessity of veteran voice in policy: “We’re not consultants. We’re stakeholders.”
Manny Gomez drives home systems coordination: “Courts, DOJ, and VA must speak the same language. We fail veterans when we don’t communicate.”
Emery Knudtson: “Courts would benefit statewide and nationwide with consistent community support.”
Their combined message is that VTCs are visionary but need relentless advocacy to advance from pilot programs to core justice infrastructure.
Conclusion
Veteran Treatment Courts offer a compelling alternative to incarceration, one rooted in accountability, community, and healing. They have grown to over 400 courts, with data showing positive effects on housing stability, access to VA benefits, and recidivism reduction, although employment gains remain modest. However, critical challenges persist, including small sample sizes, selective reporting, data gaps, and blurred lines between court and veteran clinical care.
Voices like Eric’s, Manny’s, and Emery’s demand that VTCs evolve:
Care coordination, not replacement, of existing VA services
Transparent, standardized data and evaluations (Federal, State, and County)
Sustainable funding and legislative support (Private and Public)
Distinctive Mentor/Peer involvement and distinction for veteran representation
As some states demonstrate, with dedicated funding and policy frameworks, the VTC model can expand meaningfully.
Veteran Treatment Courts represent a national commitment to serve those who have served us, offering justice not just as punishment, but as a path to progress, healing, and with dignity. But for these systems to truly deliver, they need structure, evaluation, and unwavering support. Our veterans deserve nothing less.
Selected Resources & Further Reading:
Eric Sowers, a U.S. Army combat veteran from the 82nd Airborne Division, he is a first-generation college graduate with degrees in paralegal studies and social work. After his military service, he turned personal challenges into purpose, focusing his advocacy on justice-involved veterans. Eric has worked to reduce recidivism and improve reintegration through tailored interventions in Veteran Treatment Courts. A co-author of the STRONG Veterans Act of 2022 and founder of the Student Veterans Association, he is also a 2024 Pat Tillman Scholar. His work combines policy and research, which focuses on criminogenic behavior, incarcerated veterans, and the evolution of veterans and VTC's.
Manuel Gomez is a U.S. Navy combat veteran, social worker, nonprofit leader, and doctoral student advocating for justice-involved veterans. Serving aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Peleliu from 2005 to 2011, his military service inspired a lifelong mission to support veterans’ reintegration. Manuel has secured millions in funding for veteran-focused nonprofits and government agencies, advancing programs in housing, mental health, reentry, and benefits access. A former U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs specialist and certified peer supporter, he combines lived experience with research to create empathetic, effective support systems. Manuel is driven by a vision of empowered veterans and stronger communities.
Emery Knudtson is a retired law enforcement officer with specialized training in crisis intervention and hostage negotiation, backed by real-world experience as a first responder. A mental health professional with a bachelor’s in communication and a master’s in mental health counseling, Emery is dedicated to public safety, service, and behavioral health. As a dedicated volunteer with Veteran Treatment Court, he brings compassion, discipline, and lived insight to his advocacy. A proud patriot, husband, and father with deep military roots, Emery remains committed to giving back and supporting those who serve.