Legal
Veterans Justice Outreach Initiative
The Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Initiative - created by the VA - links eligible veterans involved with the local justice systems to the needed mental-health and substance-abuse treatment services and other VA services and benefits as required.
What is a justice-involved veteran?
- A veteran who has had frequent, crisis contact with local law enforcement;
- A veteran in a local jail, for brief periods of time, for offenses that do not result in prison time;
- A veteran being monitored by the local court system.
VJO specialists provide direct outreach to justice-involved veterans. VA medical centers have VJO specialists. VJO specialists operate in the community and often are found working in local courts and jails.
According to the VA, VJO specialists are “responsible for direct outreach, assessment, and case management for justice-involved veterans in local courts and jails and liaison with local justice system partners.”
If the veteran for whom you provide care is involved with the local criminal justice system, contact the local VA medical center VJO specialist for assistance.
As a reminder, the VA cannot provide legal assistance.
Visit the VA's VJO Initiative page for more information or to locate a VJO specialist.