Justice‑involved populations experience high rates of acquired and traumatic brain injury, with prevalence exceeding that of the general population and intersecting with substance use, mental health comorbidity, and functional challenges that complicate rehabilitation and reentry. This session defines ABI/TBI mechanisms and severity frameworks, reviews epidemiology and Veteran‑specific risks including deployment and blast exposure, and describes associated cognitive, behavioral, and emotional sequelae such as slowed processing, executive dysfunction, memory impairment, and mood or behavioral dysregulation. The presentation also addresses chronic comorbidities, long‑term health risks, and the diagnostic complexity created by symptom overlap with PTSD, pain, and depression. Practical implications include brief screening approaches, rehabilitation strategies, and navigation of the VA Polytrauma/TBI System of Care, along with communication and environmental accommodations to improve engagement among justice‑involved Veterans. Attendees will learn to identify TBI‑related risks and clinical presentations, implement feasible screening, tailor interventions and referrals across systems, and utilize communication strategies that support individuals with slowed processing and executive inefficiencies.
