Veterans Incarcerated and in the Justice System
Veterans Incarcerated and in the Justice System Committee Update July/August 2021
July 15, 2021
BY DOMINICK YEZZO, CHAIR As the committee continues to investigate the origins of the policy that denies service-connected-disabled incarcerated veterans full VA compensation pension, we have decided to propose a policy change. We believe that…
Veterans Incarcerated and in the Justice System Committee Update May/June 2021
June 28, 2021
BY DOMINICK YEZZO, CHAIR There are some 181,000 veterans incarcerated in prisons and jails in the United States. Veterans make up about 8 percent of all those imprisoned in federal and state facilities. More than…
Veterans Incarcerated and in the Justice System Committee Update March/April 2021
March 29, 2021
BY DOMINICK YEZZO, CHAIR The coronavirus has most inmates on lockdown or limited lockdown. There is limited or no visiting. During lockdowns incarcerated veterans suffer from the loss of counseling and cell-block programs. Incarcerated veterans…
Veterans Incarcerated and in the Justice System Committee Update January/February 2021
February 6, 2021
BY DOMINICK YEZZO, CHAIR The New Year allows us to think through last year, to remember what we have done and what we failed to do, and to look ahead with the resolve to do…
Veterans Incarcerated and in the Justice System Committee Update September/October 2020
September 10, 2020
BY DOMINICK YEZZO, CHAIR What follows is a letter I sent in July to an inmate at the Warm Springs Correctional Center in Carson City, Nevada: I receive hundreds of letters from veteran inmates. I…
Veterans Incarcerated and in the Justice System Committee Update July/August 2020
June 29, 2020
BY DOMINICK YEZZO, CHAIR It’s not over. There was a lull in the number of infections, but now in several states there is a surge in the number of infected people. What occurs in the…
Veterans Incarcerated and in the Justice System Committee Update January/February 2019
February 21, 2019
BY DOMINICK YEZZO, CHAIR In 2019 there will be transition and change. We will vote on proposals to dismantle VVA or transition VVA into a new national Veterans Service Organization. I encourage you to vote…
Veterans Incarcerated and in the Justice System Committee Update November/December 2018
December 21, 2018
BY DOMINICK YEZZO, CHAIR I spoke at the Returning Veteran Issues Symposium in Johnstown, Pa., and I attended the unveiling of a monument honoring the achievements of women veterans at the National Cemetery in Calverton…
Chapter 391 Celebrates 30 Years
September 13, 2018
VVA Chapter 391 in Sonora, Calif., celebrated its 30th anniversary this week. Veteran Frank Smart saw the need for a local chapter of the Vietnam Veterans Association in Tuolumne County, and requested information. The paperwork…
Chapter 689 Veteran Freed From Prison Post
September 4, 2018
Tommy Joyner has given up his post as president of VVA Chapter 689 inside the Louisiana State Penitentiary, having been freed from prison after serving more than 30 years for murder. Joyner served in Vietnam…