Justice-Involved Women Veterans: Recommendations for gender-inclusivity in Veteran Treatment Courts

Abstract

Veteran Treatment Courts (VTCs) are the latest trend in specialty courts. Over the last decade, hundreds of VTCs have emerged despite little empirical support for their effectiveness. The VTC literature touts the success of these courts and suggests that the veterans who sacrificed so much for our country’s safety and prosperity deserve a “second chance” from our criminal justice system. Much of the VTC research includes mostly male justice-involved veterans (JIVs) with little mention of JIV women, women as VTC teammates, and a glaring void regarding women mentors. This article reviews recent VTC research and summarizes what we know about JIV women. Additionally, we identify gaps in the literature concerning the characteristics and needs of JIV women. Lastly, this article makes recommendations as to how the justice community could better serve the needs of JIV women.