From Council of Criminal Justice
Executive Summary:
Roughly 245,000 service members1 transition from military to civilian life each year. While most successfully rejoin their families and communities, more than a quarter of all veterans express difficulties with the transition.2 Among post-9/11 veterans, a significantly higher proportion—44%—experience readjustment challenges, struggling with housing insecurity, health issues, financial difficulties, and other problems as they turn in their uniforms and begin new roles in civilian society.3
Research shows that the challenges veterans face during transition can lead to contact with the criminal justice system. The military has made important changes in support of more successful reintegration, including the creation of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP). Despite these efforts, transition is still not treated as a priority by the Department of Defense. The result is a fragmented and under-resourced system that leaves too many service members ill-prepared for civilian life. This lack of preparation increases their vulnerability to involvement in the criminal justice system.
Consider the experiences of veterans who have moved through the military in recent years. Many joined the armed forces following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, a period when our country experienced the biggest jump in military recruitment since Pearl Harbor.4 These men and women comprise a new generation of veterans, a group that is younger, more racially diverse, and more likely to have experienced trauma prior to their military enlistment,5 all factors associated with an increased likelihood of encountering the criminal justice system.
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