New Books in Public Policy Jamie Rowen, "Worthy of Justice: The Politics of Veterans Treatment Courts in Practice" (Stanford UP, 2025)
Jan 15, 2026
In this discussion, Jamie Rowen, a sociologist and author, delves into her research on Veterans Treatment Courts (VTCs), revealing how these courts navigate social inequalities within the criminal justice system. She highlights that VTCs operate on beliefs about veterans' worthiness for support, derived not solely from their actions but their military service. Rowen explores veterans' various experiences across different courts, and how trauma narratives and racial dynamics influence political backing for these programs, shedding light on America's complex views on justice and deservingness.
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Worth And VA Support Drive VTCs
- Veterans Treatment Courts rest on both an ideological belief in veterans' worth and the material backing of VA services.
- Jamie Rowen argues these two foundations explain why VTCs proliferate and receive public support.
Local Choices Produce Distinct Court Models
- Different VTCs diverge because of local choices about eligibility, timing in the legal process, and VA access.
- Rowen shows those founding decisions shape whether a court focuses on sobriety, triage, or community-building.
Contrasting Participant Experiences
- In the model court many veterans said the program "changed my life" after receiving peer mentor support and rides.
- In the failing court veterans expressed anger and described the process as punishment rather than help.
