Criminal Justice System Involvement Among U.S. Military Veterans: Prevalence, Correlates, and Mental Health Burden

Studies of justice system involvement (JSI) among U.S. military veterans have yielded mixed results regarding both prevalence and correlates due in part to sampling variability and limitations. The present study examined factors associated with lifetime JSI in a nationally representative sample of 4,049 U.S. veterans. Bivariate and multivariate analyses indicate that JSI was associated with racial/ethnic minority, lower income/education, combat, and other lifetime traumas. Relative importance analysis revealed that lifetime substance use disorders, cumulative trauma, adverse childhood experiences, and male sex accounted for the majority of variance in predicting JSI. JSI was also independently associated with current substance use, suicidal ideation, and psychiatric treatment utilization. The study provides population-based findings that extend previous studies. Results underscore the need for informed identification, prevention, and intervention for veterans in the community who are at increased for JSI.