Contact Us
The Veterans Defense Project is a non-profit organization that advocates for criminal sentencing reform and veterans treatment courts. We consult and train on best practices related to veterans impacted by the criminal legal system.
We welcome inquiries from attorneys, judges, judicial staff, law enforcement, social workers/therapists, Veteran Service Organizations, policymakers, and community-members who would like to learn more about these issues. We also welcome inquiries from those wishing to support our mission via donations.
**Unfortunately, the VDP does not have the resources to provide legal representation or legal advice to individual veterans. If you are a veteran, or know a veteran, who is facing criminal charges, please click here to access the list of resources we’ve compiled to assist you or your loved one.**
Veterans in Crisis - Resources to Help
We've compiled the following recommendations and resources to assist you (or your loved one) as you navigate legal challenges. You do not need to face this alone, and we encourage you to reach out to your Veterans Justice Outreach coordinator and others in your community.
1. If you're facing a criminal charge, contact the local Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) coordinator
- Find a VJO near you (scroll down): https://www.va.gov/homeless/vjo.asp
- Find the nearest VA facility: https://www.va.gov/find-locations/
- Call the local VA and ask for the Veterans Justice Outreach coordinator.
2. Find an attorney
- For criminal matters: The VJO may be able to refer you to private attorneys, or a Public Defender if you cannot afford counsel.
*Free legal counsel–VA News: https://news.va.gov/109137/free-legal-services-for-veterans/
*Legal Resources for Vets: https://www.va.gov/ogc/legalservices.asp
* Please note: Many of the resources mentioned in the above links assist with civil legal matters, but a few do assist with criminal legal matters. Contact the particular organization to learn more about what they offer.
3. Reach out for support
This can be a distressing and difficult time, and we urge you to connect with loved ones and veteran community groups.
- If you plan to kill yourself or have thoughts of suicide, please contact the Veterans Crisis Line immediately.
- Free, 24/7, confidential support is a click or call away. The Veterans Crisis Line can help even if you’re not enrolled in VA benefits or health care.
- Dial 988 then press 1
- Text 838255
- Chat with a specialist
Additional information can be found on the VJO Factsheet from VA.gov