Minimizing Collateral Consequences for Veterans in the Criminal Justice System with Deflection, Diversion, and Intervention
Every decision point in the criminal justice system is an opportunity to change a life. Developed through a cross-agency collaboration between NIC, SAMHSA, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Justice-Involved Veterans Network, this white paper provides a practical blueprint for driving meaningful organizational change.
By adapting the foundational Sequential Intercept Model (Munetz & Griffin, 2006) into the Veteran Sequential Intercept Model (V-SIM), this framework helps agencies address the unique complex challenges justice-involved veterans face—including mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Use this guide to identify key interception points, implement low-level interventions early, and lead efforts within your agency to minimize collateral consequences for those who served.
