NCJ Number
153232
Date Published
1990
Length
168 pages
Annotation
Testimony on the Incarcerated Veterans Rehabilitation and Readjustment Act of 1989 (H.R. 3453) pertains to the proposed improvement in the availability of benefits and services to veterans who are in prison or on parole.
Abstract
The statement of J. Michael Quinlan, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons reviews the key elements of the legislation. One of the key elements of the legislation would be to inform the veterans of their rights under veterans' legislation and to suspend the collection of debts owed to the Department of Veterans' Affairs. In addition, the legislation would have the Bureau of Prisons conduct medical examinations to determine eligibility for benefits under the dioxin, radiation, agent orange exposure programs. Also, it would encourage the development of self-help groups of incarcerated veterans in institutions. Finally, it would have the Bureau of Prisons psychiatrists provide treatment for mental disabilities of veterans. The Director supports the bill. Other witnesses also support the bill; they are U.S. Representative George Brown, Jr., the author of the bill; Wayne Smith of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.; and Benjamin Baer of the U.S. Parole Commission. David Brigham, Director of the Veterans' Assistance Service, has reservations about any new mandate in the legislation that would require the taking of resources from one group of veterans to augment services to incarcerated veterans. He identifies particular sections of the bill that would have this effect. Written statements and questions and answers are provided.