The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) announces the release of Veteran Intercepts in the Criminal Justice System: Minimizing Collateral Consequences for Veterans in the Criminal Justice System with Deflection, Diversion.
Veteran Intercepts in the Criminal Justice System is a collaboration between NIC, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and the NIC-sponsored Justice-Involved Veterans Network. This effort reflects the original sequential intercept model (SIM) that was developed in the early 2000s by Mark Munetz, MD, and Patricia A. Griffin, PhD, along with Henry J. Steadman, PhD, of Policy Research Associates, Inc. The original intent of the sequential intercept model was to “envision a series of ‘points of interception’ or opportunities for an intervention to prevent individuals with mental illness from entering or penetrating deeper into the criminal justice system” (Munetz & Griffin, 2006). The V-SIM builds on prior efforts to adapt the SIM to the justice-involved veteran population.
Many justice-involved veterans are challenged by various forms and degrees of mental illness, substance abuse, and trauma from physical injuries (with traumatic brain injury being of particular note). Each decision point in the criminal justice system represents an opportunity to intercede at the lowest level possible and to minimize the collateral consequences of a veteran getting more deeply involved in the justice system. Veteran Intercepts in the Criminal Justice System is a tool for criminal justice practitioners, veteran advocates, and local governments that outlines options for strategies and resources for working with veterans at every step of the justice system.
Find ore information on this topic on the Justice Involved Veterans website.