Criminal

The Veterans Justice System

On any given day, approximately 730,000 people are being held in America’s jails. Approximately 160,000 men and women who have served this country are currently serving a jail or prison sentence. While many police departments have a veteran's community liaison, veterans are at higher risk of homelessness and arrest.

Veterans with mental health issues are at risk of public 'PTSD moments' that can easily result in arrest for violent offenses, and in some instances, suicide by cop.


Veterans advocates credit the lower incarceration rate partly to increased services for returning veterans. For example, many states now have "veterans courts," where veterans can get treatment for PTSD and drug abuse in lieu of jail time for certain crimes. Nevertheless, veterans are sentenced to 20% harsher sentencing than non-veterans.


Professionals theorize that might be due to many judges and prosecuting attorneys lack of experience either in the military or with the Veteran, and hold a certain ‘grudge’ against veterans for receiving what might be misconstrued as a ‘free ride’ for service to their country. 

Veteran sentences tend to be longer: 

  • 60% of the 181,000 incarcerated veterans are for non-violent charges 
  • 16% were serving life sentences compared to 14% of non-veterans 
  • 35% of veterans compared to 23% of non-veterans were incarcerated for a violent sexual offense 
  • A total 64% of veterans compared to 48% of non-veterans were imprisoned for all violent offenses 
  • Only 14% of veterans compared to 23% non-veterans are incarcerated for drug offenses
  • 600,000 veterans cannot vote because of felony conviction 
  • $56.9 Billion state’s expenditures on corrections for 2015
  • 43% of veterans and 55% of non-veterans in prison had four or more prior arrests, and 
  • 17% were serving sentences of four years or less compared to non-veterans at 21%

  • Criminal Court Resources and Information

    Legal Services & Information


    Veterans Affairs Office of General Counsel

    The mission of the Office of General Counsel (OGC) is to identify and meet the legal needs of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Its primary objective is to ensure the just and faithful execution of the laws, regulations and policies that the Secretary has responsibility for administering, and by so doing enable the Department to accomplish its mission of service to our Nation's veterans. 

    Acting General Counsel: Richard J. Hipolit 

    The General Counsel of the Department of Veterans Affairs issues written legal opinions having precedential effect in adjudications and appeals involving veterans' benefits under laws administered by VA.

     

    The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program

    2101 L Street NW, Suite 225

    Washington, DC 20037

    P: (888) 838-7727 (toll free)

    P: (202) 628-8164

    The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program is a leading national 501(c)(3) charity that has offered free legal representation to veterans, their families and survivors at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) since 1992.


    Legal Services Corporation (LSC)

    3333 K Street, NW

    Washington, DC 20007

    T: 202-295-1500

    For more than 45 years, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) and its grantees, along with other legal aid programs, have been providing this help. It is the mission of LSC’s Veterans Task Force to further access to justice for veterans by:

    • Raising awareness of the legal issues faced by veterans;

    • Identifying ways to strengthen the relationships between legal aid providers and other veteran-serving organizations;

    • Highlighting model programs that provide effective, integrated services to veterans; and

    Recommending strategies for engaging attorneys to provide legal assistance on a pro bono basis, including for complex legal issues.

  • Criminal Court Resources and Information / New York

    The Staten Island Justice Center 

    The Staten Island Justice Center provides an array of programs for both youth and adults that are impacted by the justice system. Services include individual counseling, psychoeducational group programming, youth leadership, mentorship programming, and workforce development training for opportunity youth. For justice-involved clients, the Justice Center’s holistic approach seeks to prevent the negative consequences that often accompany contact with the criminal legal system while addressing clients’ needs in order to prevent future system involvement. Youth programming is aimed at providing participants with leadership development tools and connecting them to opportunities that promote positive engagement with the community. Submit your question or comment via the form above or email info@innovatingjustice.org.

     

    New York City

    520 8th Avenue

    18th Floor

    New York, NY 10018

    phone: (646) 386.3100


    Upstate New York

    601 Tully Street

    Syracuse, NY 13204

    phone: (315) 266.4330 


  • Department of Corrections and Community Supervision

    The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry

    Inmate Search / Arizona

    701 E. Jefferson St.

    Phoenix, AZ 85034

    (602) 542-5497


    Connecticut Department of Correction

    Offender Information Search

    24 Wolcott Hill Rd, 

    Wethersfield, CT 06109

    Phone: (860) 692-7480


    The New Jersey Department of Corrections

    Offender Search Web Page

    1300 Stuyvesant Ave,

    Trenton, NJ 08618

    Phone: (609) 292-4036


    New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision

    Incarcerated Lookup / New York State

    314 W 40th St,

    New York, NY 10018

    Phone: (212) 239-6436


    Department of Corrections / New York City

    Inmate Lookup / New York City

    Bulova Corporate Center

    Address: 75-20 Astoria Blvd S, 

    Queens, NY 11370

    Phone: (718) 546-0700


  • Department of Probation / New York

    Department of Probation - Central Offices

    The New York City Department of Probation is a leader in community corrections, working within the criminal and juvenile justice systems and in the community to create a safer New York. Using Evidence-Based Practices (EBP), and a balance of enforcement, structure, treatment and support, we hold people on probation accountable and give them opportunities to forge new pathways so that they can move out and stay out of the justice system. 

    33 Beaver St,

    New York, NY 10004

    Phone: (212) 510-3700


    The Department of Probation / New York City

    The Department provides for the care and custody of people ordered held by the courts and awaiting trial or who are convicted and sentenced to one year or less of jail time. For more information on the city’s Borough Based Jails plan, please visit the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice website.

    Correction Facilities Locations

    Manhattan Detention Complex

    125 White St.

    New York, NY 10013

    Phone: (212) 225-1341


    Metropolitan Correctional Center

    150 Park Row

    New York, NY 10007 

    Phone: (646) 836-6300


    Queensboro Correctional Facility

    47-04 Van Dam St

    Long Island City, NY 11101

    Phone: (718) 361-8920

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