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Veterans Justice Outreach Improvement Act of 2021

USA117th CongressS-3323| Senate 
| Updated: 12/7/2021
Kevin Cramer

Kevin Cramer

Republican Senator

North Dakota

Cosponsors (1)
Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Veterans Justice Outreach Improvement Act of 2021 The bill updates the Veterans Justice Outreach Program, which is a program through which the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) identifies justice-involved veterans and provides them with access to VA services. Justice-involved veterans are those with active, ongoing, or recent contact with some component of a local criminal justice system. Under the bill, the VA must conduct program outreach to justice-involved veterans, military and veterans service organizations, and relevant stakeholders in the criminal justice community (e.g., local law enforcement). The VA must also develop a strategic plan for the program. In developing the plan, the VA must conduct (1) a workforce gap analysis for the program; and (2) an assessment of barriers to working with justice-involved veterans in rural, remote, and underserved areas. The VA must increase the number of Veterans Justice Outreach specialists responsible for supporting justice-involved veterans in rural, remote, or underserved areas. The bill requires the VA to establish performance goals and implementation plans for the program, Veterans Justice Outreach specialists, and for providing support for research regarding justice-involved veterans. Finally, the VA must ensure all Veterans Justice Outreach specialists receive annual training on (1) best practices for identifying and conducting outreach to justice-involved veterans and relevant stakeholders in the criminal justice community, and (2) veteran eligibility for the program.
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Timeline
Nov 4, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-5529
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Dec 7, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Dec 7, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  • November 4, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-5529
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.


  • December 7, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • December 7, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Bills

  • HR 117-6411: STRONG Veterans Act of 2022
  • HR 117-5529: Veterans Justice Outreach Improvement Act
Congressional oversightDepartment of Veterans AffairsEmployment and training programsGovernment information and archivesJudicial procedure and administrationPerformance measurementVeterans' education, employment, rehabilitationVeterans' organizations and recognition

Veterans Justice Outreach Improvement Act of 2021

USA117th CongressS-3323| Senate 
| Updated: 12/7/2021
Veterans Justice Outreach Improvement Act of 2021 The bill updates the Veterans Justice Outreach Program, which is a program through which the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) identifies justice-involved veterans and provides them with access to VA services. Justice-involved veterans are those with active, ongoing, or recent contact with some component of a local criminal justice system. Under the bill, the VA must conduct program outreach to justice-involved veterans, military and veterans service organizations, and relevant stakeholders in the criminal justice community (e.g., local law enforcement). The VA must also develop a strategic plan for the program. In developing the plan, the VA must conduct (1) a workforce gap analysis for the program; and (2) an assessment of barriers to working with justice-involved veterans in rural, remote, and underserved areas. The VA must increase the number of Veterans Justice Outreach specialists responsible for supporting justice-involved veterans in rural, remote, or underserved areas. The bill requires the VA to establish performance goals and implementation plans for the program, Veterans Justice Outreach specialists, and for providing support for research regarding justice-involved veterans. Finally, the VA must ensure all Veterans Justice Outreach specialists receive annual training on (1) best practices for identifying and conducting outreach to justice-involved veterans and relevant stakeholders in the criminal justice community, and (2) veteran eligibility for the program.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Nov 4, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-5529
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Dec 7, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Dec 7, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  • November 4, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-5529
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.


  • December 7, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • December 7, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Kevin Cramer

Kevin Cramer

Republican Senator

North Dakota

Cosponsors (1)
Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Bills

  • HR 117-6411: STRONG Veterans Act of 2022
  • HR 117-5529: Veterans Justice Outreach Improvement Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Congressional oversightDepartment of Veterans AffairsEmployment and training programsGovernment information and archivesJudicial procedure and administrationPerformance measurementVeterans' education, employment, rehabilitationVeterans' organizations and recognition