There are currently an estimated 160,000 veterans in jails and prisons in this country. About half of these veterans were experiencing homelessness just prior to, or at the time of, arrest. About half of veterans in prison have a diagnosable mental health condition as a result of military service. Hundreds, if not thousands, of veterans were sexually assaulted while serving this country.
Yet, our struggles with mental health, PTSD, TBI, and drug and alcohol abuse has led to broken families and broken communities. Our struggles have caused our communities to shun us. Our own Veterans Affairs will only visit a veteran within 90 days before we're released, so any access to the Veterans Justice Outreach is limited. Veterans are truly forgotten in jail cells, on prison yards, and in homeless shelters throughout the nation we once served.
