Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), and Jon Tester (D-Mont.), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veteran’s Affairs, today introduced the Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act. The bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to hire additional Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) specialists in order to ensure veterans have greater access to effective and tailored treatment. Additional cosponsors include Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). A companion bill was also introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.).

The VJO program was created by the VA to provide veterans with timely access to VA services and engage justice-involved veterans in specialty treatment courts. The veterans treatment court model removes veterans from the regular criminal justice process and helps to address symptoms that are unique to veterans, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse. In a veterans treatment court, the presiding judge works alongside the veteran and the VJO specialist to establish a structured rehabilitation program that is tailored to the specific needs of that veteran.

“More than a half million veterans call Arizona home, and it is important that we provide them with the best assistance possible when their transition back to civilian life is met with challenges,” said Flake. “While veterans treatment courts have a proven record of reducing recidivism rates, they are underutilized due to a lack of VJO specialists nationwide. Congress can solve that problem by passing this bill to provide Veterans Treatment Courts with the resources and manpower necessary to deliver tailored and effective treatment to the veterans who need it.”

“As a nation, we have a solemn obligation to care for our veterans, especially those who face serious challenges upon transitioning to civilian life such as post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse,” said McCain. “The Veterans Treatment Courts in Arizona have provided veterans critical access to rehabilitation and treatment, which has not only helped to bring down the veterans recidivism rate to less than five percent, but has also driven important cost savings for taxpayers in our communities. Our legislation would provide the Veterans Treatment Courts much-needed resources to expand their services and offer tailored treatment options to our nation’s veterans.”

“Veterans Treatment Courts do crucial work to make sure that veterans in the criminal justice system are getting specific and specialized assistance that they need to make a smooth transition back to civilian life,” said Tester. “This bipartisan bill will make sure that these treatment courts have the resources they need to serve local veterans.”

“Veterans who have served our nation should not have to wonder if their country is standing at their side during their time of need. Often times, adjusting to civilian life after the military is one of toughest challenge our men and women in uniform face, often due to underlying issues related to their service. As a country, and as a Congress, we should help these service members with rehabilitation as they navigate the criminal justice system and expanding the Veterans Treatment Courts program is vital in this process. Our veterans have served us - now let us serve those veterans who need our help,” said Coffman.

 

Background:

• On April 19, 2017, Flake and Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich wrote an op-ed for The Arizona Republic on the need for expanding the veteran treatment court system. Read the op-ed here.
• On April 11, 2017, Flake and Brnovich visited the Mesa Municipal Court to observe the court’s veterans docket. During the visit, Flake and Brnovich met with several dedicated VJO specialists who are responsible for connecting veterans to available veterans treatment court services under the VJO program.  

Support:

• Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act is supported by the American Legion, American Veterans (AMVETS) , Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), Justice for Vets, Student Veterans of America, Addiction Haven, Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, National District Attorneys Association, Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys’ Advisory Council, Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Coconino County Attorney’s Office, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, Pima County Attorney’s Office, Wounded Warrior Project, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Arizona (VFWAZ).
  
  

View the VFW’s letter of support here.
View the Pima County Attorney’s Office letter of support here.
View the PVA’s letter of support here.
View the National District Attorneys Association letter of support here.
View the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office letter of support here.
View the Coconino County Attorney’s Office letter of support here.
View the VFWAZ’s letter of support here.
View the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys’ Advisory Council’s letter of support here.
View the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys’ letter of support here.
View the Arizona Attorney General’s Office’s letter of support here.

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