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This study explored the life-course experiences of criminally involved veterans. The topics of maladaptive behavior patterns, criminal conduct, diverging demographic and social statuses, impacts of mental illness, social support, substance use, propensity for criminal involvement before entering the military, and combat exposure, of the veterans were explored. The project aimed to uncover common links to problematic life-course outcomes thematically shared across cohorts of criminally involved veterans and/or differences between cohorts of veterans resulting in unique needs across the life-course.

This study included three aims of analysis:

1. To explore the life-course experiences of veterans who are in the criminal justice system by assessing the perspectives of this particularly important group - those under the control of the criminal justice system, but also navigating their problems while living in the community.
2. To document the ecological momentary day-to-day experience of these individuals, in order to better understand how experience shapes normative daily behavior, mood fluctuation, self-esteem, and psychological well-being.
3. To explore the relationships of these individuals tapping into the perspectives of family/social networks members who are closest to the criminally involved veterans to better understand how deviance impacts family and social support systems - in addition to considering the complex dynamics of these relationships.

Users should note that this study included interviews, provided in qualitative transcripts. The associated qualitative data is currently not included in this release, but will be provided at a later date.

This study aimed to comparatively explore the risk factors of a sample of homegrown violent extremist (HVE) civilians (n=30) and veterans (people with a military background; n=30), who enacted or planned an HVE event between 2003-2019, as informed by people from their various social networks. A HVE event is defined as acts of terrorism within the context of ideologically motivated violence or plots (Southers, 2013). For veterans these ideologies include White Supremacy/Neo-Nazi/Anti-Muslim/Anti-LGBTQ, Anti-Government, Radical Islam, and Black Nationalism. A group of non-HVE veterans (n=10) served as a comparison group. For both HVE and non-HVE veterans, this investigation was conducted across the military lifecycle (premilitary, military, postmilitary), and included an exploration of protective factors against HVE across the military lifecycle for the non-HVE comparison group.

The collection includes three relational data files with information about demographics (DS1), radical experience (DS2), and military experience (DS3). A fourth dataset tabulates the type of social network informant for each HVE civilian, HVE veteran, and non-HVE veteran (DS4).

The purpose of this study was to conduct a comprehensive multi-site examination of veterans treatment court (VTC) operations through an implementation and intermediate outcome evaluation. The focus was primarily on VTC processes and participant populations, as well as basic participant outcomes. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from baseline and follow-up interviews, self-report survey data, semi-structured observations, and official records from eight VTC programs in three states.

Users should note that qualitative data are not available as part of this study at this time. It is not known when these data might be made available.

In 2014, the San Diego Association of Governments applied for and received funding from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to conduct a process and impact evaluation of the Veterans Moving Forward (VMF) program that was created by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department in partnership with the San Diego Veterans Administration (VA) in 2013. VMF is a veteran-only housing unit for male inmates who have served in the U.S. military. When the grant was written, experts in the field had noted that the population of veterans returning to the U.S. with numerous mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and depression, were increasing and as a result, the number of veterans incarcerated in jails and prisons was also expected to increase. While numerous specialized courts for veterans had been implemented across the country at the time, veteran-specific housing units for those already sentenced to serve time in custody were rarer and no evaluations of these units had been published. Since this evaluation grant was awarded, the number of veteran-only housing units has increased, demonstrating the need for more evaluation information regarding lessons learned.

A core goal when creating VMF was to structure an environment for veterans to draw upon the positive aspects of their shared military culture, create a safe place for healing and rehabilitation, and foster positive peer connections. There are several components that separate VMF from traditional housing with the general population that relate to the overall environment, the rehabilitative focus, and initiation of reentry planning as early as possible. These components include the selection of correctional staff with military backgrounds and an emphasis on building on their shared experience and connecting through it; a less restrictive and more welcoming environment that includes murals on the walls and open doors; no segregation of inmates by race/ethnicity; incentives including extended dayroom time and use of a microwave and coffee machine (under supervision); mandatory rehabilitative programming that focuses on criminogenic and other underlying risks and needs or that are quality of life focused, such as yoga, meditation, and art; a VMF Counselor who is located in the unit to provide one-on-one services to clients, as well as provide overall program management on a day-to-day basis; the regular availability of VA staff in the unit, including linkages to staff knowledgeable about benefits and other resources available upon reentry; and the guidance and assistance of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) to support reentry transition for individuals needing additional assistance.

The general criteria for housing in this veteran module includes: (1) not being at a classification level above a four, which requires a maximum level of custody; (2) not having less than 30 days to serve in custody; (3) no state or federal prison holds and/or prison commitments; (4) no fugitive holds; (5) no prior admittance to the psychiatric security unit or a current psychiatric hold; (6) not currently a Post-Release Community Supervision Offender serving a term of flash incarceration; (7) not in custody for a sex-related crime or requirement to register per Penal Code 290; (8) no specialized housing requirements including protective custody, administration segregation, or medical segregation; and (9) no known significant disciplinary incidents.