NCJ Number
45451
Date Published
1977
Length
43 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A MAIL SURVEY OF 1,634 VETERANS IN GEORGIA PRISONS SHOW GREAT NEED FOR VA BENEFITS FOR VOCATIONAL AND REHABILITATION WORK; SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE.
Abstract
NONCOMPUTERIZED QUESTIONNAIRES WERE USED TO SURVEY THE 2,012 MILITARY VETERANS LISTED AS INMATES IN GEORGIA PRISONS AND A 'NOT REPORTED' GROUP OF 2,856. RETURNS WERE RECEIVED FROM 1,643 VETERANS AND 317 NONVETERNAS, APPARENTLY INCLUDED IN THE 'NOT REPORTED' INMATES. THE QUESTIONNAIRE WAS SPARKED BY THE INCREASING NUMBER OF VETERANS INCARCERATED IN GEORGIA INSTITUTIONS, THE LACK OF CREATIVE EFFORT ON THE PART OF THE VARIOUS BRANCHES OF THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION (VA) TO REACH THESE PEOPLE, AND THE FACT THAT THESE VETERANS ARE ENTITLED TO EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL BENEFITS THEY ARE NOT RECEIVING. OF THESE VETERANS, 219 HAD BEEN IN MILITARY SERVICE 1950-1959, 434 IN 1960-1969, AND 511 IN 1970-1977. ABOUT HALF HAD HONORABLE DISCHARGES WHILE 129 HAD GENERAL DISCHARGES WITH HONORABLE CONDITIONS. MANY REQUESTED INFORMATION ON UPGRADING DISCHARGE PAPERS. MOST HAD NEVER RECEIVED ANY VETERANS ADMINISTRATION BENEFITS WHILE IN PRISON. NEARLY HALF HAD NOT COMPLETED HIGH SCHOOL AND MORE THAN HALF WERE UNEMPLOYED AT TIME OF ARREST. MOST OF THE MILITARY ASSIGNMENTS REPORTED HAD NO CIVILIAN EQUIVALENT AND PROVIDED LITTLE TRAINING FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYMENT. QUESTIONS ON AMOUNT OF TIME LEFT TO SERVE ON SENTENCE SHOWED THAT ANY VA PROGRAM BEGUN IN 1977 WOULD HAVE A SIZEABLE NUMBER OF THE SAME VETERANS FOR UP TO THREE MORE YEARS. A NEGATIVE FACTOR IS THE FACT THAT THE TOP THREE CATEGORIES FOR WHICH MILITARY VETERANS ARE SENTENCED IN GEORGIA ARE EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY DRUG RELATED (ARMED ROBBERY AND BURGLARY, ABOUT 50 PERCENT RELATED TO SUPPORTING A DRUG HABIT, AND DIRECT DRUG CHARGES). IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT: THE COMMITTEE ON CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND SERVICES INVITE THE YOUNGER LAWYERS' COMMITTEE ON PRISON REFORM TO WORK WITH IT TO DEVISE WAYS TO SECURE MORE ACTIVE VA PROGRAMS FOR PRISONERS; MEMBERS OF THE STATE BAR WHO HAVE MILITARY EXPERIENCE AND WILL TAKE PRISONER CASES ON REFERRAL SHOULD BE IDENTIFIED, PARTICULARLY IN CASES DEALING WITH MILITARY SERVICE; AND THE VA SHOULD BE INVITED TO ESTABLISH A PILOT PROJECT WITH THE STATE BAR OF GEORGIA AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO MOBILIZE ALL STATE RESOURCES SCATTERED THROUGH VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND TO RECOMMEND LEGISLATION AND PROCEDURES TO ADDRESS THE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS OF MILITARY VETERANS IN GEORGIA PRISONS. AN APPENDIX PROVIDES THE QUESTIONNAIRE AND SAMPLES OF THE OPEN-ENDED COMMENTS RECEIVED. (GLR)