Justice Summit
Lexington Veterans Affairs Medical Center Hosts First Justice Outreach Summit
Lexington, KY ~ Community leaders and criminal justice system partners across the state attended the first-ever Justice Summit hosted by the Lexington VA Medical Center on September 29, 2011, at 9A.
Organized by VA staff and held at the Crowne Plaza - Campbell House, the Summit focused on:
- Implementation and expansion of the Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Justice Outreach initiative, both nationally and within the Commonwealth of Kentucky
- Collaboration with the Veterans Task Force and part of the Kentucky Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission
- VA programs and services for justice-involved Veterans
- Candid discussion about how best to serve this unique population
“Of all incarcerated individuals, 10 percent are Veterans and 60 percent have mental health problems. Over 80% of these Veterans are eligible for VA services,” reports Dr. Kate Spencer, Veterans Justice Outreach Specialist, and Summit organizer. According to Dr. Spencer, the Summit is an important first step in bringing VA staff together with local criminal justice system leaders to collaborate on this crucial issue that so profoundly affects those who have proudly served in the United States Armed Forces. “It is our hope that by working together, we won’t miss any opportunities to divert Veterans with mental illness away from avoidable contact with the justice system and get them the help they need and deserve.”
Over 60 community leaders attended including Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Will T. Scott, Commonwealth Representative Kelly Flood, several judges and private attorneys, and representatives from the administrative office of courts, pretrial services, the Department of Public Advocacy, and numerous state and county agencies.
Expansion of the Veterans Justice programs is part of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs vision for ending homelessness among Veterans within five years.
