The VA advantages of the veterans are crucial. It is time to restore them

We saw a case in the event of a case in which veterans were involved, whose traumatic brain injuries and PTBs contributed to the circumstances they landed in prison.

Manny Menendez
| Opinion representative

For far too many American veterans that serve our country, time is followed for time. The combat trauma in connection with the struggle and other “invisible injuries” make the difficult transition from the military to civil life, and drugs and alcohol will fall dangerous, which lead veterans from the treatment of unsolved issues.

As a result, some former service members end up behind bars, in which they lose access to a decisive benefit from the Ministry of Veteran Matters: Specialized health care to help them deal with the challenges they initially put them in prison.

I have lived this experience and now work with other soldiers and women whose fights they ended up in the criminal justice system. The congress must help these imprisoned veterans get the care they deserve – at the time they need it the most – so that they can heal and live productive life from the outside.

1 of 3 veteran reports that were arrested at least once

Every year, members of the armed forces leave around 200,000 service members. While most transitions are successful, some have some problems with mental health and substance disorders, the effects of post -traumatic stress disorders, homelessness and crime.

According to the Council for Criminal Justice, at least 1 of 3 veteran report was reported, and the suicide rate for veterans is about 1.5 times higher than the rate among the general population.

In recognition of the veteran service and its weaknesses at home, our government offers a number of supportive advantages, including the special medical and mental health care of the VA.

This was also the case with imprisoned veterans. While they serve time, they had access to the best qualified specialists to treat their individual needs and to fulfill the PTSD, traumatic brain injuries and other wounds of war that could possibly have played a role in their detention.

But then there was a change in the administrative rule, which formalized in 1999, which terminated these important VA benefits and dealt with almost 70 years of practice.

Suddenly the VA was excluded from the supply of detained veterans, so that they were dependent on institutional clinicians, who generally did not use any special training to combat PTBs and other service -related conditions.

This is a shame. The flawing of imprisoned veterans of care, which could make the biggest difference in their life, is not only unclear, but also do not recognize the victims they have provided for our nation – victims who have exposed them in many cases to experience their criminal offenses.

Fortunately, this topic has attracted the attention of the cross -party veterans, judicial committee, which asks the congress to reverse the ban on VA services for imprisoned veterans.

The commission headed by the former Defense Minister Chuck Hagel was launched by the Council for Criminal Justice. The former Defense Minister and the chief of staff of the White House Leon Panetta – found that the rule change from 1999 took place shortly before the terrorist attacks on September 11th. After September 11, 2001, millions of American troops were used, many of which served several combat tours.

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These multiple tours mean that today's veterans have experienced historically high combat rates and increases their risk of PTSD and traumatic brain injuries associated with the participation of criminal justice.

Simply put, the Commission said: “The VA cover was taken away by detained veterans at one point in time when veterans had more associated risk factors associated with criminal behavior, which made it more difficult for them to properly supply these factors.”

The detention does not end our debts to veterans

After my release from prison in 2022, my wife and I started a non -profit organization, the veterans Justice League. We have transformed our pain and personal experiences into the purpose by focusing on veterans of justice and supporting their re -entry from prison with living space and other resources, while they have included them in programs for members of the active service and veterans who are still behind bars.

Through this work we saw a case after the case in which veterans were involved, whose traumatic brain injuries and PTSD contributed to the circumstances they landed in prison.

If you are not treated, you endanger the risk of falling back into a life in crime and addiction after you are free of importance – and also increase your susceptibility to suicide.

It doesn't have to be that way.

Our nation loves her veterans and is characterized by parades, holidays and monuments. But what veterans really need are the full advantages of the government that had undertaken to offer them if they voluntarily made themselves available.

The detention does not end our debts to these men and women, and veterans behind bars earn the best possible chance of healing their wounds.

If we keep our promise, it not only helps veterans as individuals, but also benefits public security.

Manny Menendez is the veteran and the founder and director of the US Army Veteran Justice League, A non -profit organization that supports veterans supported by judicial companies and uses their experiences in training for service members with active service.

The VA advantages of the veterans are crucial. It is time to restore them

We saw a case in the event of a case in which veterans were involved, whose traumatic brain injuries and PTBs contributed to the circumstances they landed in prison.

1 of 3 veteran reports that were arrested at least once

The detention does not end our debts to veterans

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