Get Justice-Involved Veterans BACK HOME Act

This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a pilot program to furnish mental health care to incarcerated veterans, with a specific focus on those with service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), or military sexual trauma. The program will operate at a minimum of five diverse facilities, utilizing either telemental health services or mobile mental health units, and will not charge copayments. Care will be provided exclusively by VA health care providers, who will operate from a dedicated hub separate from other VA facilities. Furthermore, the legislation amends federal law to require the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to establish dedicated housing units or wards for incarcerated veterans in federal correctional institutions, wherever feasible. These units are intended to foster an environment conducive to discipline and order, facilitating mental health treatment, peer support, and rehabilitation, with correctional staff receiving training and resources in collaboration with local VA facilities. If dedicated housing is not possible, structured veteran-focused programs with VA oversight must be implemented. The bill also ensures the automatic resumption of VA compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation payments for veterans upon their release from incarceration for a felony. Finally, the bill mandates an expansion of data collection efforts by requiring the Director to gather and analyze comprehensive information concerning the incarceration of veterans. This data will be used to produce an annual report to Congress , detailing the findings related to veterans incarcerated in State and Federal prisons, thereby improving understanding and policy development for this population.