Veteran Incarceration/Suicide Index (VISI)

VISI is the acronym for Veterans Incarceration/Suicide Index and focus of this paper. Certain states possess elevated incarceration rates as well as suicide rates, but little is known about the veterans facing criminal charges and suicide. In an effort to determine an incarcerated suicide index for veterans per state, I averaged the percentages of veteran population, incarceration, and suicide to create an index.  This in an effort to determine the effect of Veterans Treatment Courts on the psychological well-being of the veteran facing criminal charges In 2014, Veterans accounted for 18% of all deaths by suicide among U.S. adults and constituted 6.6% of the U.S. adult population (ages 18+). In 2010, Veterans accounted for 20.2% of all deaths by suicide and represented 9.7% of the U.S. adult population. There is continued evidence of a high burden of suicide among middle-aged and older Veterans. In 2014, about 65% of all Veterans who died by suicide were age 50 or older. After adjusting for differences in age and gender, risk for suicide was 21% higher among Veterans when compared with U.S. civilian adults. (2014)


Factors Evaluated:

Population:                State by State percentages of civilian populations and veterans.

  • Percentage of civilians/veterans total
  • Percentage of particular age groups

Incarceration:            State by State percentages of civilian prison rates and veterans.

  • Percentage of civilians/veterans total
  • Percentage of particular age groups

Suicide:                        State by State percentages of civilian suicide rates and veterans.

  • Percentage of civilians/veterans total
  • Percentage of particular age groups



“When you know better, you better do better. It is our obligation to do better now that we have more

knowledge and a model that’s working.”                                    — Melissa Fitzgerald

                                                                                                                                                                      Senior Director, Justice for Vets



VISI Brief

VISI is the acronym for Veterans Incarceration/Suicide Index and focus of this paper.

VISI Mental Health

Mental illness is a term that describes a broad range of mental and emotional conditions. Mental illness is different from other covered mental impairments such as mental retardation, organic brain damage, and learning disabilities.

VISI Incarceration

While veteran prison population is decreasing, according to the VA, veterans still serve an average 20-30% more prison time than our non-veteran counterparts.

VISI Courts

The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that all persons accused of a crime have the right to counsel in their defense.


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