One very important component in obtaining a parole date is having confirmation of transitional housing. For most prisoners, this can be a serious challenge.
However, for veterans this challenge should be an easy obstacle to overcome. Unfortunately, there is a bump in the road. The Veterans Administration will not issue a letter saying that the prisoner has a bed waiting for him or her.
However, VA transitional housing centers will pre-screen a veteran to determine eligibility for placement and then issue a letter confirming that once he or she arrives at a specific location, he or she will be placed at that time.
President Obama’s five-year plan went into effect in 2010. It is now mandated that homeless veterans be housed and the VA classifies incarcerated vets as homeless.
The five-year plan says one of its programs for justice-involved veterans is “Transitional planning for Veterans discharging from the justice system.” The parole board rejects the wording explaining the VA procedure.
Inmate R. Willis was recently issued a letter from the Inglewood VA center confirming he has been pre-screened and upon his arrival he will be placed in a bed. This succeeded because Willis case was handled in court, not before the parole board. His release was contingent on transitional housing, more specifically, a letter stating he had a place to go.
A VA official reports he is working to rectify the parole problem.
