Viability Study Confirms Strong Need for Veterans Treatment Court

The CNMI Judiciary recently completed a Veterans Treatment Court Docket viability study. It found that there is a “strong need for specialized and coordinated substance use disorder and mental health services for justice-involved veterans in the CNMI.”

NPC Research conducted the study and completed a week-long site visit, which included 31 interviews with 34 people from relevant agencies and organizations. According to the court, the assessment is possible through a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), secured by former Congressman Gregorio Kilili Sablan.

“Challenges identified include limited data tracking and the absence of an on-island Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) officer, although Hawaii-based VJO officers currently provide support. The report also recommends collaborating with the Attorney General’s office to explore more inclusive eligibility criteria, particularly for veterans with violent offenses,” the NMI Judiciary announced on social media.

The court added, “Stakeholders expressed strong support for the initiative, and the study notes that the existing court infrastructure provides a solid foundation to implement a VTC docket in the CNMI. The Judiciary must now decide whether to pursue the VTC docket and, if so, identify the funding source to establish and sustain it.”