Second Chance Month must include veterans the system leaves behind

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Bradley W. Hennings is a former Veterans Law Judge and is currently a partner at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick (CCK Law), where his practice is dedicated to representing veterans before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Court of Appeals.

April is recognized nationwide as Second Chance Month, a time to reflect on the barriers faced by people with criminal records and to recommit to policies and practices that support successful reentry. For veterans, a second chance carries deeper weight. It is not only about rebuilding a life, but restoring dignity after service to the country.

As policymakers and advocates mark Second Chance Month, critical gaps remain largely unaddressed. For many veterans, the path from service to incarceration is not sudden. It often begins with untreated trauma, a discharge tied to behavioral symptoms, and the loss of access to benefits that could have stabilized their transition.

The need is significant. A widely cited Bureau of Justice Statistics survey from 2011–2012 found roughly 181,500 veterans in state and federal prisons and local jails. There are undoubtedly still many who remain in the system and face complex and overlapping challenges.

All too often, these challenges are exacerbated by issues tied directly to military service. Many justice-involved veterans live with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, or substance use disorders. These conditions can affect behavior, decision-making, and the ability to reintegrate into civilian life. When left untreated, they can increase the likelihood of contact with the justice system, while incarceration itself can aggravate the underlying causes, reinforcing a cycle that is difficult to break.

Justice involvement should not define a veteran’s future.

Across the country, there is growing recognition that veterans require a different approach. Veterans treatment courts have emerged as one of the most effective models for supporting justice-involved veterans. These courts focus on treatment and accountability rather than punishment alone, connecting participants with mental health care, substance use treatment, and mentorship from fellow veterans.

The results are encouraging. Studies have shown that veterans who participate in these programs are less likely to reoffend and more likely to achieve stability in their lives. Yet access remains uneven. Hundreds of these courts exist nationwide, but many communities still lack them, leaving veterans without specialized pathways to recovery.

Even when support programs are available, systemic barriers can stand in the way. Access to benefits is often a deciding factor in whether a veteran can successfully reenter society. Health care, disability compensation and housing assistance can provide the stability needed to rebuild. But eligibility rules are complex.

A veteran’s discharge status can determine whether they qualify for these benefits at all. In many cases, that status is not isolated from the challenges veterans face after service. Mental health conditions such as PTSD, depression or substance use may contribute both to the circumstances surrounding a veteran’s discharge and to later involvement with the justice system. Without recognition of this connection, veterans can be excluded from the very benefits designed to support recovery.

Periods of incarceration can further interrupt or complicate access, creating additional administrative and legal hurdles at the moment stability is most needed. These barriers have real consequences. Veterans who cannot access care or financial support are at greater risk of homelessness, unemployment and continued justice involvement. Without intervention, the system becomes reactive rather than restorative.

If Second Chance Month is to mean anything, it must extend beyond recognition and into action.

First, identification must improve. At every stage of the justice process, from arrest through reentry, agencies should consistently screen for veteran status and connect individuals to appropriate services. Early intervention can change the trajectory of a case and a life.

Second, eligibility barriers must be addressed at their source. Many veterans involved in the justice system were discharged under conditions linked to untreated mental health conditions such as PTSD, depression or substance use. Expanding access to discharge upgrades, character of discharge reviews, and VA eligibility determinations is necessary to ensure these veterans are not excluded from benefits due to circumstances connected to their service. Without this step, identification and programming alone cannot fully resolve gaps in access to care and support.

Third, access to effective programs must expand. Veterans treatment courts have demonstrated success, but geography should not determine whether a veteran can access them. Jurisdictions without these courts should invest in similar models that prioritize treatment, structure and accountability.

Fourth, systems of support should be easy to navigate and coordinated efficiently. Veterans benefit most when legal, health care and community resources work together to support reintegration and long-term stability.

Finally, community plays a critical role. Peer mentorship programs, where veterans support one another through reentry, have proven highly effective. These relationships build trust, reduce isolation, and reinforce a shared sense of purpose that is often lost after service.

Second chances do not happen by accident. They are built through systems that recognize both accountability and humanity.

For veterans, that commitment carries special significance. These are individuals who volunteered to serve, often in high-risk and high-stress environments. When they return home and struggle, the response should not be limited to punishment. It should include the tools and support necessary to move forward.

Second Chance Month is an opportunity to reaffirm that commitment. A second chance for a veteran is not simply about justice. It is about keeping faith with those who have already given so much.