Criminal Justice Issues Among Homeless Veterans

Abstract

While there is not research that demonstrates that homelessness causes incarceration or that incarceration causes homelessness, there has long been an understanding that the two influence and create risk for one another. This chapter examines the prevalence of and risk factors for criminal justice involvement among homeless Veterans and the prevalence of and risk factors for homelessness among criminal justice–involved Veterans. The lack of shared definitions of homelessness and criminal justice involvement results in a wide range of prevalence estimates, few risk factors have been identified, and the cyclical nature and mechanisms explaining the link between homelessness and criminal justice involvement among Veterans is largely unknown. The US Department of Veterans Affairs currently has two programs designed to address treatment needs, including homelessness, among criminal justice–involved Veterans. As these programs expand and evolve, research is needed to fill our extensive knowledge gaps and develop programs and interventions to attenuate Veterans’ risks for chronic homelessness and criminal justice involvement.