Holly Matto, associate professor of social work, was recently awarded a contract from the National Institute of Corrections, in partnership with Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Bureau of Prisons, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, to analyze survey data from the Veteran Treatment Courts (VTCs).
VTCs, first founded in 2008 in Buffalo, New York, are veterans-only courtrooms that provide an alternative to incarceration for veterans dealing with substance abuse and combat-related mental illness. VTCs also connect veterans with programs, benefits, and services designed specifically for them. There are currently more than 220 VTCs across the United States with many more in various stages of planning and implementation.
The survey data analysis will be used to understand how VTCs are measuring performance and outcomes, to identify standard measures used across VTCs and share the information as a resource, and to inform future veteran-specific initiatives.