Legal Advocacy/Initiatives

Veterans Treatment Courts: Justice for Vets (Maine)

Justice For Vets is a professional services division of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Alexandria, Virginia. Justice For Vets is an initiative to work with the civil criminal justice system to effectively identify, assess, and respond to all justice-involved veterans appropriately. They help communities bring together local, state and federal resources to directly serve veterans involved in the justice system due to substance abuse, mental illness, or trauma. Their goal is to establish Veterans Treatment Courts within reach of every veteran in need.

Veterans Treatment Courts Locator :  Some courts may not be listed, but a justice contact is usually posted.  For instance, the map reflects "0" courts in the State of Maine, but there is one Veterans Treatment Court.  There is a justice contact posted who can assist or refer you to someone who is knowledgeable of the program.

The Justice for Vets program partners with the Veterans Administration through their veterans justice outreach efforts and a network of state Veterans Justice Outreach Specialists.

Maine Veterans Affairs (VA) Justice Outreach Specialist

Ms. Anne Archibald
Maine VA Medical Center
1 VA Center
Augusta, ME 04330

Phone:  877-421-8263 or 207-623-8411

State of Maine Contact

Mr. Hartwell Dowling
171 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333

Phone:  207-287-4021

External Website: Justice for Vets

Veterans Courts Resource Guide

The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) noted that "The first veteran's court opened in Buffalo, N.Y. in 2008. The veteran's court model is based on drug treatment and/or mental health treatment courts. Substance abuse or mental health treatment is offered as an alternative to incarceration. Typically, veteran mentors assist with the programs. An important issue that has to be addressed is the eligibility for veteran's courts in terms of whether charges involving felonies or crimes of violence will be allowed. The inclusion of offenders charged with inter-family violence is also of grave concern to policy makers."

The NCSC's comprehensive online Veterans Courts Resource Guide also includes contacts for non-digitized publications.

Webinars

Female Veterans in the Criminal Justice System (July 2016)

Similar and Other Resources (Intimate Partner Violence, Military Sexual Violence/Trauma, and Available Resources)

External Website: National Center for State Courts