Digital Learning Commons: Just Mercy: Veterans and the prison system

Veterans and the prison system

One third of veterans report having been arrested and booked into jail at least once, compared to fewer than one fifth of civilians. There are more than 181,500 veterans in U.S. prisons and jails.

Articles and Resources

Commission To Study Why So Many Veterans End Up In Jail, Prison
Nearly eight percent of those in state prisons and more than five percent of federal inmates were veterans. There are more veterans imprisoned in the U.S. than there are total prisoners in all but 14 other countries, but their numbers represent only one percent of the veteran population.
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News, Crime and Justice. “Commission to Study Why so Many Veterans End up in Jail, Prison.” National Criminal Justice Association, 23 Aug. 2022, www.ncja.org/crimeandjusticenews/commission-to-study-why-so-many-veterans-end-up-in-jail-prison.
Our Veterans Need Support, Not Incarceration
Investing in community-based treatment instead of locking people up for the psychological wounds of war would honor veterans.
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Kendrick, Corene, et al. “Our Veterans Need Support, Not Incarceration | News & Commentary.” American Civil Liberties Union, 11 Nov. 2022, www.aclu.org/news/prisoners-rights/our-veterans-need-support-not-incarceration.
Military Veterans In Federal Prison Have A Program Meant To Assist In Their Successful Return To Society
Our military veterans are the pride of our country but many have challenges after returning from service where they faced hostile environments under stressful circumstances. While most transition back to civilian life, mental illness, trauma and drug addiction are too often a part of the life of post-war veterans.
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Pavlo, Walter. “Military Veterans in Federal Prison Have a Program Meant to Assist in Their Successful Return to Society.” Forbes, 30 Oct. 2022, www.forbes.com/sites/walterpavlo/2022/10/30/military-veterans-in-federal-prison-have-a-program-meant-to-assist-in-their-successful-return-to-society/?sh=48c64f595133. Accessed 13 Feb. 2023.
Commission will study why veterans are more likely than nonveterans to get in trouble with the law
A preliminary report found that many risk factors were linked — for example, symptoms of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress can lead to substance abuse.
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Kube, Courtney. “1 in 3 Veterans Has Been Arrested, Data Shows. A Commission Is Asking Why.” NBC News, 23 Aug. 2022, www.nbcnews.com/news/crime-courts/commission-will-study-veterans-are-likely-non-veterans-get-trouble-law-rcna44326.

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