Homelessness and Contact with the Criminal Legal System among U.S. Combat Veterans: An Exploration of Potential Mediating Factors

Ugur Orak; Katherine Kelton; Michael G. Vaughn; Jack Tsai; Robert H. Pietrzak

doi:10.1177/00938548221140352

Homelessness and Contact with the Criminal Legal System among U.S. Combat Veterans: An Exploration of Potential Mediating Factors

Ugur Orak, Katherine Kelton, Michael G. Vaughn, Jack Tsai, Robert H. Pietrzak

Graduate School of Social Welfare

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

A notable proportion of criminal legal system (CLS)-involved combat veterans have a history of homelessness. However, knowledge regarding the relationship between homelessness and CLS involvement among combat veterans is largely based on descriptive studies, and potential mechanisms linking homelessness to CLS involvement are largely unknown. Using data from the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (n = 1,353), this study examined the association between homelessness and contact with CLS among U.S. combat veterans and evaluated the mediating roles of shared risk factors. Findings revealed that a large proportion (53.6%) of the association between homelessness and CLS involvement was accounted for by indirect associations, most notably via drug use disorder (22.1%), moral injury (11.4%), and alcohol use disorder (10.7%). These findings highlight modifiable mechanisms that may link homelessness to CLS involvement, which may help inform targeted prevention efforts to mitigate the risk for CLS involvement among combat veterans.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	392-409
Number of pages	18
Journal	Criminal Justice and Behavior
Volume	50
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/00938548221140352
Publication status	Published - 2023 Mar

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
For all analyses in this study, the authors used data from The National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (NHRVS). NHRVS is funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD, which had no role in the design, analysis, or interpretation of this study. The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs. No funds, grants, or other support were received to assist with the preparation of this manuscript. The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose. The data that support the findings of this study are available from Robert Pietrzak, Ph.D., MPH at robert.pietrzak@yale.edu upon reasonable request. ( https://www.vacsp.research.va.gov/CSPEC/Studies/INVESTD-R/Ntl-Health-Resilience-Veterans-Study.asp ).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology.

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Psychology(all)
Law

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1177/00938548221140352

Cite this

@article{1cdfa427caca4d6f9b0da4fc6435adc4,

title = "Homelessness and Contact with the Criminal Legal System among U.S. Combat Veterans: An Exploration of Potential Mediating Factors",

abstract = "A notable proportion of criminal legal system (CLS)-involved combat veterans have a history of homelessness. However, knowledge regarding the relationship between homelessness and CLS involvement among combat veterans is largely based on descriptive studies, and potential mechanisms linking homelessness to CLS involvement are largely unknown. Using data from the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (n = 1,353), this study examined the association between homelessness and contact with CLS among U.S. combat veterans and evaluated the mediating roles of shared risk factors. Findings revealed that a large proportion (53.6%) of the association between homelessness and CLS involvement was accounted for by indirect associations, most notably via drug use disorder (22.1%), moral injury (11.4%), and alcohol use disorder (10.7%). These findings highlight modifiable mechanisms that may link homelessness to CLS involvement, which may help inform targeted prevention efforts to mitigate the risk for CLS involvement among combat veterans.",

author = "Ugur Orak and Katherine Kelton and Vaughn, {Michael G.} and Jack Tsai and Pietrzak, {Robert H.}",

note = "Funding Information: For all analyses in this study, the authors used data from The National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (NHRVS). NHRVS is funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD, which had no role in the design, analysis, or interpretation of this study. The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs. No funds, grants, or other support were received to assist with the preparation of this manuscript. The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose. The data that support the findings of this study are available from Robert Pietrzak, Ph.D., MPH at robert.pietrzak@yale.edu upon reasonable request. ( https://www.vacsp.research.va.gov/CSPEC/Studies/INVESTD-R/Ntl-Health-Resilience-Veterans-Study.asp ). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology.",

year = "2023",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1177/00938548221140352",

language = "English",

volume = "50",

pages = "392--409",

journal = "Criminal Justice and Behavior",

issn = "0093-8548",

publisher = "SAGE Publications Inc.",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Homelessness and Contact with the Criminal Legal System among U.S. Combat Veterans

T2 - An Exploration of Potential Mediating Factors

AU - Orak, Ugur

AU - Kelton, Katherine

AU - Vaughn, Michael G.

AU - Tsai, Jack

AU - Pietrzak, Robert H.

N1 - Funding Information: For all analyses in this study, the authors used data from The National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (NHRVS). NHRVS is funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD, which had no role in the design, analysis, or interpretation of this study. The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs. No funds, grants, or other support were received to assist with the preparation of this manuscript. The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose. The data that support the findings of this study are available from Robert Pietrzak, Ph.D., MPH at robert.pietrzak@yale.edu upon reasonable request. ( https://www.vacsp.research.va.gov/CSPEC/Studies/INVESTD-R/Ntl-Health-Resilience-Veterans-Study.asp ). Publisher Copyright: © 2022 International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology.

PY - 2023/3

Y1 - 2023/3

N2 - A notable proportion of criminal legal system (CLS)-involved combat veterans have a history of homelessness. However, knowledge regarding the relationship between homelessness and CLS involvement among combat veterans is largely based on descriptive studies, and potential mechanisms linking homelessness to CLS involvement are largely unknown. Using data from the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (n = 1,353), this study examined the association between homelessness and contact with CLS among U.S. combat veterans and evaluated the mediating roles of shared risk factors. Findings revealed that a large proportion (53.6%) of the association between homelessness and CLS involvement was accounted for by indirect associations, most notably via drug use disorder (22.1%), moral injury (11.4%), and alcohol use disorder (10.7%). These findings highlight modifiable mechanisms that may link homelessness to CLS involvement, which may help inform targeted prevention efforts to mitigate the risk for CLS involvement among combat veterans.

AB - A notable proportion of criminal legal system (CLS)-involved combat veterans have a history of homelessness. However, knowledge regarding the relationship between homelessness and CLS involvement among combat veterans is largely based on descriptive studies, and potential mechanisms linking homelessness to CLS involvement are largely unknown. Using data from the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (n = 1,353), this study examined the association between homelessness and contact with CLS among U.S. combat veterans and evaluated the mediating roles of shared risk factors. Findings revealed that a large proportion (53.6%) of the association between homelessness and CLS involvement was accounted for by indirect associations, most notably via drug use disorder (22.1%), moral injury (11.4%), and alcohol use disorder (10.7%). These findings highlight modifiable mechanisms that may link homelessness to CLS involvement, which may help inform targeted prevention efforts to mitigate the risk for CLS involvement among combat veterans.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85144265968&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85144265968&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/00938548221140352

DO - 10.1177/00938548221140352

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85144265968

SN - 0093-8548

VL - 50

SP - 392

EP - 409

JO - Criminal Justice and Behavior

JF - Criminal Justice and Behavior

IS - 3

ER -

Homelessness and Contact with the Criminal Legal System among U.S. Combat Veterans: An Exploration of Potential Mediating Factors

Abstract

Bibliographical note

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this