US Codex
Bill
Notes

To direct the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to establish a pilot program to help State prisons and local jails improve the documentation of incarcerated veterans.

H.R. 5973 · 116th Congress · Feb 26, 2020 · Lineage

A BILL

Section 1 Findings

Congress finds the following:
(1)
Approximately 200,000 veterans are incarcerated in the United States.
(2)
More than half of all veterans involved in the criminal justice system suffer from a mental health condition or substance abuse disorder.
(3)
Such veterans may be at a greater risk for suicide.
(4)
Veterans released from incarceration have specialized needs and face different issues relating to reentry into society.

Sec. 2 Pilot program to improve documentation of incarcerated veterans

(a)
Establishment— The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall carry out a pilot program to provide grants and technical assistance to State prisons and local jails to improve documentation of whether inmates of such institutions are veterans.
(b)
Purpose— The purposes of the pilot program are the following:
(1)
To assist the Secretary in providing benefits to incarcerated veterans under laws administered by the Secretary.
(2)
To assist veterans affairs offices of States in providing benefits to incarcerated veterans under laws administered by such offices.
(3)
To increase the number of veterans involved in the criminal justice system whose cases are diverted to veterans treatment courts.
(c)
Priority— In selecting grant recipients under the pilot program, the Attorney General shall give priority to State prisons and local jails located in—
(1)
States that contain the greatest populations of veterans per capita;
(2)
States with the highest rates of veterans living in poverty; and
(3)
jurisdictions that contain a veterans treatment court or veterans diversion program.
(d)
Definitions— In this section, the terms “veterans treatment court” and “veterans diversion program” mean a State or local court that is participating in the veterans treatment court program (as defined in section 2991(i)(1) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968; 34 U.S.C. 10651(i)(1)).