Veterans Justice Outreach Act of 2015

To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program to support veterans in contact with the criminal justice system by discouraging unnecessary criminalization of mental illness and other nonviolent crimes, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Justice Outreach Act of 2015 2. Department of Veterans Affairs program of coordinated outreach for justice-involved veterans at risk of homelessness (a) Program required (1) In general Subchapter III of chapter 20 (A) by redesignating sections 2022 and 2023 as sections 2023 and 2024, respectively; and (B) by inserting after section 2021A the following new section 2022: 2022. Coordination of outreach for justice-involved veterans at risk of homelessness (a) Program required The Secretary shall carry out a program to support veterans in contact with the criminal justice system by discouraging unnecessary criminalization of mental illness and other nonviolent crimes. (b) Partnership The Secretary shall carry out the program required by subsection (a) in partnership with local law enforcement, judicial, and community-based treatment and legal assistance organizations. (c) Authorized activities In carrying out the program required by subsection (a), the Secretary may conduct the following: (1) Training for police, prosecutors, courts, public defenders, and other community-based support organizations on matters relating to psychological trauma associated with military service and mental health and substance abuse services available from the Department. (2) Support for courts and their officers, including physical presence in the courtroom setting, by facilitating mental health assessments, treatment planning, referrals to Department services, or such other services as may be requested by the courts. (3) Such other outreach and assistance as the Secretary considers appropriate for the provision of support described in subsection (a). (d) Justice outreach coordinators (1) In order to effectively assist veterans in contact with the criminal justice system, the Secretary shall establish coordinators to provide outreach under the program required by subsection (a). (2) The Secretary shall ensure that each coordinator established under paragraph (1) is knowledgeable about psychological and psychiatric evaluation in relation to justice-based forensic matters, such as— (A) psychiatric diagnosis; (B) developmental disabilities; (C) medical issues, such as traumatic brain injury; (D) competency and sanity; (E) neglect and abuse; (F) parental rights; and (G) life threatening issues, such as suicidality and homicidally. (e) Veteran in contact with the criminal justice system defined In this section, the term veteran in contact with the criminal justice system (1) A veteran in contact with local law enforcement who can be appropriately diverted from arrest to mental health treatment. (2) A veteran in local jail either pretrial or serving a sentence. (3) A veteran in adjudication or monitoring by a court. . (2) Conforming amendment Section 2023(f) of such title, as redesignated by paragraph (1)(A), is amended in paragraphs (2)(C) and (3)(C) by striking section 2023 section 2024 (3) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 20 of such title is amended by striking the items relating to sections 2022 and 2023 and inserting the following new items: 2022. Coordination of outreach for justice-involved veterans at risk of homelessness. 2023. Coordination of outreach services for veterans at risk of homelessness. 2024. Referral and counseling services: veterans at risk of homelessness who are transitioning from certain institutions. . (b) Report (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the program carried out under section 2022(a) of such title, as added by subsection (a)(1). (2) Contents The report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include an assessment of the following: (A) The number of coordinators established under section 2022(d)(1) of such title, as added by subsection (a)(1). (B) The training of such coordinators. (C) The capabilities of such coordinators. (D) The capacity of the program carried out under section 2022(a) of such title, as so added, to meet the demand of veterans and courts for services under the program.

Summary: Veterans Justice Outreach Act of 2015 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a program to support veterans in contact with the criminal justice system by discouraging unnecessary criminalization of mental illness and other nonviolent crimes. The program shall be carried out in partnership with local law enforcement, judicial, and community-based treatment and legal assistance organizations. The VA shall establish coordinators to provide program outreach.