Mesa, Ariz. – U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) today announced the introduction of the Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act, a bill to require 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. Flake made the announcement during a visit to the Mesa Municipal Court with Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich 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.  

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 or 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 both a former Army JAG Officer and as Attorney General for Arizona, I am grateful to Senator Flake for introducing this bill.  I hope that legislators will act swiftly to provide these important services for the men and women who have given so much to protect us. We have all been sickened by stories of veterans who are having difficulty readjusting to civilian life and are unable to get the assistance that they deserve.  While this legislation is just one piece of a greater puzzle, it is a good start.  We need to ensure that we are doing everything we can to help out veterans, and I promise that my office is committed to that end. ” said Brnovich.

Support: Flake’s bill 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, 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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