Healing, Accountability, and Support: Participants’ Experiences in a Veterans Treatment Court

Veterans Treatment Courts (VTCs) offer rehabilitation over incarceration for eligible justice-involved veterans dealing with substance misuse, mental illness, and/or other behavioral health conditions. Modeled on drug and mental health courts, VTCs specifically address combat-related and other service-related traumas. While quantitative data shows VTCs reduce recidivism and improve clinical outcomes, additional qualitative research is needed to identify factors that drive or hinder participants’ success in these programs. The current study presents results of a process evaluation conducted on a VTC in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin to better understand participant experiences during program participation and to identify key strengths and challenges of program design. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 21 veterans between 2018–2019. Results of the analysis identified three overarching themes: (1) motivation to enter the VTC, (2) VTC programming, and (3) future goals following program discharge. Policy implications related to each of these themes are further discussed throughout the paper.