Abandoned and Betrayed: A System of Illusions, Window Dressing and Harm?

• In Event: Abandoned and Betrayed: Veterans Entangled in the Criminal Courts

Abstract

Effective identification and management of veterans in the criminal justice system is hampered by illusions, window dressing and system-caused harm. Illusions include beliefs that Vet defendants are rare, not the product of military experience and invisible wounds, and are being taken care of by vet courts. Window dressing includes Veteran courts; Veteran’s Justice Outreach (VJO) programs; vet laws such as diversion; vet dorms in prison and other programs that help make it look as if the system is working and that the problem is small and well-managed. Harm is caused by discharges that deny benefits and treatment options, denial that criminal behavior is frequently a product of war, moral injury, and not simply the failure of the individual vet. Harm is also caused by underestimating the number of vets in system, undermanned VJO; Vet diversion at DA discretion only; vet courts practicing medicine and prison systems without treatment. These issues and the need to address cultural and factual problems faced by all participants in the criminal justice system to avoid abandoning and betraying the numerous and increasing number of veterans in the criminal justice system will be discussed.

Authors

• Robert G. Stanulis, Forensic Psychology/Neuropsychology Portland OR

• William B. Brown, Western Oregon University

• Gerrad McElroy, Western Oregon University