Acknowledgments

The findings and recommendations from the Veterans Justice Commission are the products of its members, who graciously shared their time and expertise. The commissioners wish to express their thanks to the members of their advisory committees, who made this work possible:

Front-End Advisory Committee (Policing through Sentencing)

Carla Bugg, Jac Charlier, Greg Hamilton, Matt Logan, Jim Lorraine, Meredith Mannebach, Kathleen Meehan-Coop, Justice Eileen Moore, Barbara Pierce, Judge Robert Russel, Ronald Self, Maureen Siedor, Theresa Thompson, and Scott Tirocchi.

Transition Advisory Committee

Renee Burbank, Carl Castro, Timothy Grammel, Patricia Harris, Chris Lawrence, Vic Martin, Hector Matascastillo, Al McMichael, Lawton Nuss, William Oslund, Vince Patton, Patricia Ross, Jo Sornborger, Syrita Steib, and Maurice Wilson.

Corrections and Reentry Advisory Committee

Giancarlo Cambrelén Santiago, Saydyie Derosia, Berlynn Flury, Pelicia Hall, Major General Mark Inch, Rob Jeffreys, Angela Johnson, Adam Luck, Steven Manley, Michael Nail, Radha Sadacharan, Ronald Self, Jack Tsai, and April Zamora.

Jim Seward directs the Commission and led the collaboration between members to create reports outlining recommendations, a model policy framework, and multiple research reports. The Commission’s work was supported by Policy Specialist Olivia McLarnan, with additional support from Council on Criminal Justice team members Aaron Rosenthal, Kathy Sanchez, Stephanie Kennedy, Jenifer Warren, Brian Edsall, Rachel Yen, and Andrew Page.

The Commission’s advisers provided invaluable insights for its reports and recommendations throughout the life of the project: Ryan Else, Brock Hunter, Lindsey Kirchhoff, David MacEwen, Lumen Mulligan, Robin Olsen, Barbara Pierce, Maureen Siedor, Wesley Smith, and the late Evan Seamone.

Aaron Rosenthal produced three Commission reports: Honoring Service, Advancing Safety: Supporting Veterans From Arrest Through Sentencing, From Duty to Dignity: Supporting Service Members in Their Transition to Civilian Life, and Alternatives to Prosecution and Incarceration for Justice-Involved Veterans: A Model Policy Framework. Support for these reports was provided by Olivia McLarnan, Jim Seward, and the Council on Criminal Justice team.

Olivia McLarnan produced the From Confinement to Community: Supporting Successful Veteran Reentry and Employment report, with support from Kathy Sanchez, Jim Seward, and the Council on Criminal Justice team.

Hannah Bolotin, Stephanie Kennedy, Olivia McLarnan and Andrew Page drafted From Service Through Reentry: A Preliminary Assessment of Veterans in the Criminal Justice System, with extensive research and editing support from General Peter Chiarelli, Adam Gelb, Andrea Finlay, David MacEwen, Lumen Mulligan, Barbara Pierce, Evan Seamone, Jim Seward, Wesley Smith, and Jenifer Warren.

The late Evan Seamone wrote, Who's a Veteran? Challenges in Defining and Identifying Veteran Status with drafting and editing support from Stephanie Kennedy and Aaron Rosenthal.

Ryan Holliday wrote Suicide Among Justice-Involved Veterans: Understanding Risk and Meeting Needs, with drafting and editing support from Aaron Rosenthal.

Ugur Orak wrote From Service to Sentencing: Unraveling Risk Factors for Criminal Justice Involvement Among U.S. Veterans, with drafting and editing support from Aaron Rosenthal.

Lumen Mulligan wrote Unwavering Intent: Congress' Enduring Commitment to Veterans Benefits, with support from Jim Seward.

The Racial Disparities Among Veterans fact sheet was produced by Stephanie Kennedy, with research support from Aaron Rosenthal and Kathy Sanchez.

The late Evan Seamone drafted Healing on the Inside: A History of Healthcare for Incarcerated Veterans, and the piece was completed posthumously with drafting and editing support from Stephanie Kennedy.

Susan Howley and Diba Rouzbahani ran focus groups and conducted analysis to inform Reflections: A Conversation With Veterans About Transition and Their Experiences in the Criminal Justice System and completed the piece with analysis and writing support from Stephanie Kennedy.

Soonjo Huang wrote Exploring Biomarker Technology to Enhance the Diagnosis and Treatment of PTSD in Justice-Involved Veterans, with research, writing, and editing support from Stephanie Kennedy and Kathy Sanchez.