Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Veteran Defendant Reasons For Opting Out Of Veterans' Treatment Court, Delilah A. Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Veterans’ treatment courts (VTCs) are problem-solving courts created to address the specific treatment needs of veteran defendants. Consistent with general strain theory, the stressors of military service can lead to negative emotions that have been linked to criminality. Despite the favorable results of studies on the efficacy of VTCs to reduce recidivism, participation is voluntary, and not all eligible candidates elect to participate. The purpose of this study was to discover why defendants choose to opt out. Understanding the barriers to participation is critical for VTC actors charged with providing treatment to as many veterans as possible. A qualitative study …