As a clinical social worker, Jeremy Brogden has experience in helping to connect clients with various resources in the community that can help provide useful support. For the past eight years or so, as the justice outreach specialist working out of the Veterans Administration facility in Durham, Brogden’s aim has been laser-focused on a specific type of clientele – veterans who find themselves having to maneuver the criminal justice system.

Brogden’s district covers 27 counties – that’s more than a quarter of the entire state of North Carolina. Our local four-county area falls into that district, and Brogden told Phyllis Maynard and John C. Rose on Tuesday a little bit about how the program works.

Frankly, there are usually more resources available to his clients in urban areas than there are in rural areas, but Brogden said he is always looking for ways to connect with veterans who may need the services he provides.

“A large part of what I do is jail outreach…and one that I prioritize,” Brogden said during the recurring TownTalk segment called “Former Active Duty: Still Boots on the Ground.” When veterans find themselves on the wrong side of the law, Brogden said, sometimes they need help connecting with available resources for assistance with issues ranging from housing, mental health or substance abuse treatment.

“This is a service that has a profound impact on veterans who are justice involved,” he said, adding that he may be the only person to meet with a jailed veteran, especially since the onset of the COVID pandemic when visits were restricted. The term “justice involved” refers to those who have not been sentenced for their alleged offense, those recently arrested and those on probation, Brogden explained.

“This is an opportunity to engage with veterans in places where they may be understandably distraught, they may have hit a low point…this is the time to plant seeds (that) lead to treatment and a positive outcome down the road.”

Brogden can recommend treatments or other options for clients, but ultimately the decisions are made by the court. “What we can do it advocate for treatment, and in many instances, we do find success – but not in all cases.”

One program that the Durham VA implemented in 2016 is called “Strength At Home,” a 12-week group therapy program that helps participants find ways to improve relationships and curb instances of domestic violence.

“It’s been a real beneficial program for the veterans I work with,” Brogden said. By learning effective coping and communication skills, participants can address interpersonal violence that may occur in the home – physical, emotional or verbal abuse. A component of the program looks particularly at the impact of trauma and the negative impact that military service can have, leading to conflict.

Harnett County has the state’s first veteran treatment court, Brogden said. This court is staffed with judges who are very familiar with the veteran culture and population, as well as resources and benefits that may be available to those who have served in the military.

“It’s been a very fruitful collaboration,” Brogden said, “and a wonderful resource for veterans I’ve worked with.”

What Is A Veterans Treatment Court? – Justice for Vets

To learn more about the VA’s veterans’ justice outreach program, contact Brogden at 919.452.6612 or Jeremy.brogden@va.gov.

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