title: Incarcerated Veterans Outreach Program.
abstract: The objective of this study is to identify and facilitate re-entry services for military veterans in the Criminal Justice System through the Incarcerated Veteran Outreach Program. Veterans are explored as a subgroup of the general inmate jail populations in southern Ohio based upon veteran's status, military discharges, service-related injuries, treatment needs, pre-release planning, and re-entry services. Veterans reported having psycho-social problems, diverse levels of criminality, criminogenic needs, and significant episodes of homelessness. A sample of 399 incarcerated veterans in state prison, county jails, and community corrections setting were identified and completed the psycho-social pre-release assessment. Their average age was 44.6; they were more likely to be White males, divorced, most honorably discharged, and were represented in the following eras: 34% Vietnam, 35% post-Vietnam, 26% Persian Gulf War, and 5% Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom. The findings encourage the development of a re-entry outreach model and strategies to prevent episodes of criminal recidivism.
authors.affiliation: a School of Social Work, Edinboro University , Edinboro , Pennsylvania , USA.
authors.forename: Bradley J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Schaffer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009820:Ohio; D011329:Prisoners; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012947:Social Work / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Veterans; criminal; jail; military; offender