Veterans Moving Forward

About the Program

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

Year: 2015

The Veterans Moving Forward Program at the Vista Detention Facility is a partnership with the San Diego Veterans Administration dedicated to assisting incarcerated veterans by providing tailored in-custody treatment and services, links to community programs and re-entry assistance. The program is helping turn around the lives of veterans, many who have post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, and other service-related issues underlying their crimes. The Veterans Moving Forward program helps veterans access information about government services and benefits and community programs for veterans as part of preparing them for reintegration into society after incarceration. All inmates who leave the program are provided with a re-entry plan, housing and support. Many of the inmates enter in-patient substance abuse treatment for several months after release from jail to build on their in-custody sobriety and treatment. In the first year of the program, which started in November 2013, 77 inmates were successfully returned to the community from the program, and not one returned to custody on a new charge. The success in reducing crime means taxpayers avoid the costs of future incarcerations and victimizations.