Letter to the editor: June is PTSD awareness month

Letter to the editor from://May 25, 2026//

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To the Editor,

As we prepare to observe PTSD Awareness Month this June, it is critical to recognize the invisible, life-threatening link between Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, veteran suicide ideation, and Veterans Treatment Courts. For many in-crisis justice-involved veterans, the criminal justice system is not just a point of failure, but a final opportunity for life-saving intervention through VTCs.

The statistics are a stark reminder of the “invisible wounds” of service:

The PTSD and justice connection: Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder are 61% more likely to become justice-involved than those without.
Suicide ideation risk: Justice-involved veterans are nearly twice as likely to attempt suicide as those without a criminal justice history.
Incarceration connection: Among veterans in jail, nearly nine in 10 have experienced traumatic events, and 39% screen positive for PTSD — more than six times the civilian rate.
* Ryan Holiday PhD. Council on Criminal Justice September 2023

VTCs function as a vital “backstop” for in-crisis justice-involved veterans at their breaking point. Unlike traditional courts, which often treat veterans like any other defendant, VTCs address the root causes of their behavior. They provide a structured environment — reminiscent of military discipline — where veterans receive mandated treatment and peer mentorship from fellow veterans. The results are transformative: nearly 90% of veterans with co-occurring PTSD who complete a VTC program have no further arrests. By diverting veterans from incarceration into clinical care, these courts effectively reduce the risk of suicide and permanent legal ruin.

And while Maryland welcomed a new Veterans Docket Court in Calvert County in April 2026, access still remains a “justice by geography” issue; the northeastern shore and western Maryland still do not have an operational VTC. Funding for these venues still remains an issue that requires a dedicated examination. Expanding these programs is not about offering a “get out of jail free” card—it is about honoring the sacrifices of those who served by providing a path to recovery before it is too late.

Support and promote PTSD and suicide ideation prevention awareness as well as the expansion of Maryands Veterans Treatment Court program.

Joshua Marks, Independent Veteran Advocate