Veterans: Review of the Veterans Administration's Services to Incarcerated Veterans: HRD-79-97

Since 1974 the Veterans Administration (VA) has increased its outreach effort in terms of the number of penal facilities visited to counsel veterans on their benefits. Although some federal and state prisons were not visited in 1978, veterans were more aware of their benefits and are using them more than in 1974. However, the outreach program still needs improvement. Supervision of VA counselors was virtually nonexistent, regional outreach efforts varied, and coordination among VA and other groups making outreach visits to prisons could be improved. Efforts are being made to contract for disseminating information to prison officials through the American Correctional Association, a professional association of prison officials.