Justice Involved Veterans (JIV) Initiative

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

The Justice Involved Veterans (JIV) program is an integrated service delivery model designed to serve Veterans of the United States Armed Forces who are involved in the criminal justice system in Dakota County, Minnesota. In addition to serving individual clients, the program is changing how systems work collaboratively to provide optimal services to this unique clientele. The JIV program was created to identify veterans within the criminal justice system in Dakota County, the issues they face, the existing systems they interact with, and services needed but not currently available. With this knowledge, the JIV program has implemented an integrated service delivery model to help address the underlying behavioral health and other issues that lead veterans into the criminal justice system. A full-time coordinator for the JIV program creates a focal point for integrated service delivery and collaborative case management of clients. The Community Corrections Department has designated five adult high-risk probation officers who have Veteran only caseloads. The Sheriff’s Office identifies Veterans entering the county jail and sends a daily report to the Veteran Services Department. All other agencies and departments in the criminal justice system assist in identifying and referring Veterans to the JIV program coordinator.