The Veterans Justice Commission is examining the extent and nature of veterans’ involvement in the criminal justice system and developing recommendations for evidence-based policy changes that enhance safety, health, and justice.
Launched by the Council on Criminal Justice in August 2022, the Commission is assessing the risk factors that drive veterans’ justice-system involvement, the adequacy of transitional assistance for military service members as they reenter civilian life, and the effectiveness of the justice system response when veterans break the law.
The Commission is chaired by former U.S. Defense Secretary and U.S. Senator Charles Hagel and includes former defense secretary and White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta as well as 13 other leaders representing veterans, the military, the Veterans Administration, community advocates, and various sectors of the justice system.
Commission Members
Members participate in their individual, not their institutional, capacities. Professional affiliations do not imply institutional endorsement.
Hon. Charles Hagel
Chair 24th Secretary of Defense U.S. Department of Defense Former U.S. Senator (NE)
Michael P. Boggs
Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Georgia
Carla Bugg
Criminal Justice Services Coordinator Recovery Organization of Support Specialists
Dr. Andrea Finlay, PhD (VA Liaison)
Research Health Scientist Veterans Administration Center for Innovation to Implementation
Pelicia Hall
Senior Vice President, ViaPath Technologies Former Commissioner, Mississippi Department of Corrections
Greg Hamilton
Chief Customer Officer, CIVICTEC Sheriff of Travis County, Austin, TX (ret.)
Major General Mark Inch
Corrections Consultant, Mark 2.54, LLC 9th Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons U.S. Army (ret.)
Sergeant Major Alford McMichael
14th Sergeant Major of the U.S. Marine Corps (ret.)
General Maryanne Miller
United States Air Force (ret.)
Justice Eileen C. Moore
Associate Justice, California Court of Appeal Army Nurse Corps, United States Army
Hon. Leon Panetta
23rd Secretary of Defense, U.S. Department of Defense Former White House Chief of Staff Former U.S. Congressman (CA)
Vincent W. Patton III, EdD
Senior VP for Leadership Development, NewDay USA 8th Master Chief Petty Officer of the U.S. Coast Guard (ret.)
Major General Angela Salinas
Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas United States Marine Corps (ret.)
Dr. Ronald Self, PhD
Founder and Executive Director, Veterans Healing Veterans from the Inside Out, former U.S. Marine
Dr. Jo Sornborger, PsyD
Executive Director, Operation Mend, UCLA Health
Jim Seward
Commission Director Colonel, United States Army
Olivia McLarnan
Policy Specialist
General Peter Chiarelli
Senior Adviser Member, CCJ Board of Trustees
Aaron Rosenthal
Research Consultant
Lindsey Kirchhoff
Legal and Policy Consultant
Council Staff
Meetings are facilitated by Council staff and consultants. Neither the Board of Directors nor the Board of Trustees approves or disapproves the findings and recommendations.
