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Adding insult to injury, the U.S. Between 1985 to 1998, the in combat made them feel closer to
Government initially denied that number of veterans in jails and the men and women with whom
some of the veterans’ health prob- prisons rose 46%. In 1998, there they served. They also learned that
lems were related to their experi- were approximately 225,700 vet- they were tougher than they previ-
ences in Vietnam. For example, erans in U.S. prisons and jails. ously thought, and their priorities
many veterans developed men- Approximately 13% of the state changed about what was impor-
tal and emotional difficulties as inmates, 15% of federal inmates, tant in life. Finally, after steadily
they struggled to cope with their and 12% of local jail inmates increasing for years, the number
thoughts about the war. They reportedly served in the Armed of incarcerated veterans began to
experienced symptoms including Forces. The Bureau of Justice significantly decline after 1998.
depression, remorse, flashbacks, Statistics found that 50% of these The latest research from the
hallucinations, mood swings, anxi- veterans served during a war; Bureau of Justice Statistics shows
ety, paranoia, and outbursts of rage. 35% were Vietnam-era veterans; the incarcerated veteran population
Medical professionals ultimately and 12% were Gulf War veterans. in 2016 was estimated to be 107,400
recognized this condition and gave Unbelievably, among violent state which represents approximately
it the name post-traumatic stress inmates, the average sentence of 7.9% of state inmates and 5.3% of
syndrome (PTSS) and acknowl- veterans was more than four years federal inmates. This progress did
edged it as a valid mental illness. longer than the average sentence for not occur by accident. It was a com-
Studies projected that as many non-veterans. bination of factors that evolved over
as 800,000 Vietnam veterans suf- the past several decades specifically
fered from PTSS. Sadly, Veterans New Generation of Veterans aimed at helping veterans make the
Administration (VA) hospitals Today, a new generation of vet- transition to civilian life in lieu of
initially did a poor job of treating erans is making the transition from prison life.
PTSS. In 1978, according to the military service to civilian life. In The War on Terror has lasted 20
Bureau of Justice Statistics, the ratio fact, approximately one in five vet- years and has provided approxi-
of veterans in jail or prison was erans today served after the terror- mately 2.5 million deployed ser-
greater than the portion of veterans ist attacks of 9/11. Approximately vice members. This has given the
among the U.S. adult population. 75% of these veterans have been criminal justice system and support
Five years after the Vietnam War, deployed at least once compared to organizations an extensive amount
veterans made up only 19% of the 58% of previous generations; and of case studies that allows them to
adult population but 24% of prison 9/11 veterans are twice as likely to examine the needs of our veterans
inmates and 25% of jail inmates. have served in a combat zone as both individually and collectively.
Unfortunately, it would be many their predecessors. Approximately For example, since 2007 the U.S.
years before this situation would 50% have reported experiencing Department of Veterans Affairs and
get better. The criminal justice traumatic or distressing experiences the Veterans Health Administration
system blatantly feared what it did related to combat, and a third have (VHA) has operated the Health
not understand; and the horrors of sought professional help. Like their Care for Reentry Veterans (HCRV)
war were not easily understood by predecessors the war is felt beyond program, which provides outreach
anyone, including the veterans that their tour of duty and stays with and reentry planning assistance for
experienced it first-hand. At that them after they return to civilian veterans incarcerated in state and
time, the best solution appeared to life. This has remained consistent federal prisons.
be “lock them up and throw away regardless of what era they served. Recently, the implementation of
the key.” In the first few years after they Veteran Treatment courts is gaining
Then, in 1990–1991, the Persian served, combat veterans are less national prominence as one of the
Gulf Crisis ushered in renewed likely to feel optimistic about the most innovative solutions for veter-
public support for deployed mili- future as compared to those who ans facing criminal charges. In these
tary troops. Unfortunately, the new did not serve in combat. They are courts, the judge is surrounded by
sentiment of support didn’t rid also likely to struggle with the an interdisciplinary team working
the nation of PTSS as many Gulf lack of structure in civilian life together to help veterans achieve
War veterans also suffered from and oftentimes felt disconnected recovery and get their lives back on
this debilitating ailment; and it did from family and friends. At the track. It allows for a collaborative
nothing to slow down the mass same time, there are a few positive approach, consisting of prosecu-
incarceration of veterans. In fact, developments experienced by post tors, defense attorneys, treatment
the number of incarcerated veterans 9/11 combat veterans. For example, providers, law enforcement repre-
inexplicably increased. many of them said their experiences sentatives, VA representatives, and

10 | NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2021 AMERICANJails