Stacy Burns, Chair of the Sociology Department at LMU, won her second Faculty Fellowship Award in 2010 from the Haynes Foundation for her study of Southern California Veteran's Courts.  Deadlines for the 2011 competition are December 3, 2010 for Faculty Fellowships and October 28 for Major Research Grants. For more information about the Haynes Foundation and grants available, see www.haynesfoundation.org .

Dr. Burns writes of her project, "This project will extend my recent research on problem-solving courts, funded in 2009 by the Haynes Foundation. The project will break new ground by examining in detail one of the most important kinds of emerging problem-solving courts, Veteran’s Court. There are only a handful of Veteran’s Court programs currently being piloted across the United States and one of the most innovative programs is now operating in Orange County, California. The California Penal Code, section 1170.9 states that a veteran in criminal court may be placed in community treatment, instead of jail or prison, if they suffer from post traumatic stress (PTSD), psychological problems, or substance abuse problems as a result of having served in a combat theater. Veteran’s Court is modeled on principles of drug courts, but is specifically designed to serve veterans who become enmeshed in the criminal justice system. The goal of Veteran’s Court is to restore the mental and physical health of veterans while protecting public safety."