California is home to more than 1.8 million veterans, roughly six percent of the state’s population, yet estimates are that nine percent of our jails populations are made up of veterans. With the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq winding down, more veterans will be returning to California. The U.S. Justice Department anticipates an increase in the number of veteran’s who will run afoul of the law as these young men and women return from service.
No one knows exactly how many veterans are incarcerated in California, but it is known that many veterans who are in jail also suffer from service-related depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries and other mental health disorders. In some cases, these varied mental illnesses may have contributed to the veteran’s incarceration.
The Vista Detention Facility in Vista, Calif. has initiated a new program specifically tailored to addressing the needs of incarcerated veterans. The program is called Veterans Moving Forward (VMF) and is a collaborative effort between the facility and the San Diego Veterans Administration.
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The program aims to provide necessary in-custody treatment that might mean the difference between moving forward and re-offending. VMF will offer incarcerated veterans access and information about government services and benefits regardless of the character of discharge and offer the opportunity to address the obstacles of reintroduction to society following incarceration.
According to the U.S. Justice Bureau, incarcerated veterans are more likely to suffer from alcoholism than the average inmate, but have lower rates of drug abuse. More veterans are convicted for violent crimes than the average, and show higher rates of reporting mental illness such as PTSD and depression.
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Assemblymember Rocky Chávez, a retired Marine Colonel and Vista’s state representative, toured the facility and learned about the VMF program on Thursday, December 12.
“The transition from soldier to citizen can be challenging for our young men and women,” said Chávez. “Veterans have experiences that the average citizen does not, and sometimes the result of these experiences can lead to trouble. The VMF program offers the specialized treatment that is essential to addressing the needs of our incarcerated veterans to ensure they do not re-offend.”
The collaborative effort will provide in-custody and post-release services through the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, it’s justice partners and supporting community providers. Upon release from detention facilities, veterans will be placed in incentive based housing (IBH). IBH is a proven method to promote responsible and accountable lifestyles among former inmates and provides an environment similar to military service.
Chávez said the success of the program depended on the results of the first group of inmates in the program.
“This program is vital to the long term health and well-being of our veteran population,” said Chávez. “There needs to be an understanding that incarcerated veterans often need different types of help, and this program is a step in the right direction. By collaborating with service providers, law enforcement and government programs, we can reduce the number of veterans who re-offend and we can help them to find positive ways they can use skills gained during service to be productive members of our communities.”
The program differs from traditional procedure in that it has a high focus on positive reinforcement. California’s jails are operated on graduated discipline and negative reporting to control inmate behavior. Some studies have shown that inmates are more likely to comply when working toward gaining benefits rather than responding to punishment.
Programs similar to VMF have been instituted in other parts of the nation and have shown to be highly successful. For example, one such program in Buffalo, N.Y. reduced recidivism among the veterans enrolled in the program to zero. Local jails in the Buffalo area average recidivism rates around 65 percent.
