The National Institute of Corrections and the Bureau of Justice Assistance have partnered with the Justice Programs Office (JPO) to develop and administer training and technical assistance for specialized screening, assessment, and case planning tools for veterans treatment courts (VTCs). The first phase of VTC Enhancement Initiative produced three new VTC-specific tools (a short screener, a comprehensive risk-need assessment, and a case planning protocol) to meet the special needs of veterans in contact with the criminal justice system by incorporating the latest research on trauma, substance-use disorders, and other issues affecting veterans.

In addition to developing a training and technical assistance program for the new VTC-specific tools, JPO staff will be overseeing a solicitation process to select up to four VTCs interested in receiving on-site and remote training and technical assistance to learn how to implement the tools with fidelity. JPO staff will work with each pilot court to integrate the tools into existing court procedures and practices and provide ongoing technical assistance to address any implementation issues that arise.

Application Guidelines

For further information, please contact JPO’s Associate Director for Research, Dr. Julie Marie Baldwin (jbaldwin@american.edu). 

This fall on JPO's "On the Docket with NDCRC" podcast, we're exploring the opioid epidemic. Listen now to hear how one Montana drug treatment court is battling a flood of opioids in its community.

Listen to the Podcast

This season on the podcast Serial, host Sarah Koenig and reporter Emmanuel Dzotsi explore the criminal justice system by examining ordinary cases and they asked JPO for help. They spent a year at the Justice Center in Cleveland, Ohio, which they selected because it let them record everywhere — courtrooms, back hallways, judges’ chambers, prosecutors’ offices – and then follow those cases outside the building, into neighborhoods, into people’s houses, and into prison.

We watched how justice is calculated in cases of all sizes, from the smallest misdemeanor to the most serious felony. This season, we tell you the extraordinary stories of ordinary cases. One courthouse, week by week.

Don’t miss this new season and in particular, listen to episode 2: You’ve Got Some Gauls. JPO’s Senior Policy Counsel Zoë Root consulted on this episode.
Listen to the Podcast

Learn More about JPO's Role

If you were not able to join the Justice Programs Office at American University and the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys in September for webinar about the role prosecutors play in ensuring the constitutional right to counsel, a recording is now available.

Watch now to hear from Marlene Biener, Deputy General Counsel at the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, Justin Bingham, City Prosecutor of Spokane, Washington, and Genevieve Citrin Ray, Senior Policy Advisor and R2C Project Director at the Justice Programs Office at American University. Ms. Citrin Ray will also preview findings from a Right to Counsel (R2C) National Campaign roundtable that was held with prosecutors in December 2017 and focused on what prosecutors can do to ensure the right to counsel and effective public defense delivery systems.
Watch the Webinar

Issues within the justice system tend to disproportionally effect the least fortunate members of society. Similarly, the overuse of resources by business entities create environmental impacts that tend to disproportionally effect those same members of society. Therefore, the Justice Programs Office is committed to environmental stability. By participating in American University’s Green Office Program, we have a concrete set of goals to reduce our carbon footprint, reduce our use of resources, and increase our recycling efforts. This is accomplished by working directly with American University’s Office of Sustainability and informing staff and students on sustainable office practices.  

Follow us on social media to stay up to date on our latest news, publications, resources, events, and more. 

Find us on Facebook and like @AUJPO
If you want the latest from the Right to Counsel National Campaign, like @RighttoCounselNationalCampaign

If you are on Twitter, be sure to follow:

Don't miss our videos and webinars on YouTube - AmericanUnivJPO

Subscribe to our podcast, On the Docket with NDCRC, by finding us on the iTunes Podcast store.

Visit the Just Thoughts, the JPO blog, to read weekly posts from our staff on issues ranging from right to counsel and juvenile justice to treatment courts.

We release three newsletters a month. Subscribe today to keep up with the latest happenings at the Justice Programs Office, learn more about our National Drug Court Resource Center, and receive the latest publications, research, multi-media resources, policy changes, news items, and relevant opportunities related to behavioral health, mental health, and criminal justice issues faced by veterans and military personnel.
JPO's Monthly Newsletter
NDCRC's Newsletter
VJMH Monthly Newsletter