Below is data from the 1997 Surveys of Inmates in Adult State and Federal Corrections Facilities and from the 1996 Survey of Inmates in Local Jails. These are the most up to date numbers that I have been able to find so far. This information comes from the US Department of Justice - Bureau of Justice Statistics. WHY these numbers are over 5 years old with no updates found yet, is beyond me.

Highlights include the following information:

• 1 in 6 incarcerated Veterans were dishonorably discharged
• 1 in 5 reported seeing combat duty while in the military
• In 1998 an estimated 56,000 Vietnam Era and 18,500 Persian Gulf Veterans were incarcerated in State and/or Federal Prisons.
• About 35% of veterans in State prison, compared to 20% of non-veterans, were convicted of homicide or sexual assault.
• Veterans (30%) were more likely than other State prisoners (23%) to be first-time offenders.
• Among violent State prisoners, the average sentence of veterans was 50 months longer than the averagef non-veterans.
• Veterans in State prison (26%) were less likely than other State prisoners (34%) to report having used drugs at the time of their offense.
• Nearly 60% veterans in State prison have driven drunk in the past compared to 45% of other inmates.
• About 70% of veterans, compared to 54% of other State prisoners, had been working full time before arrest.
• Veterans are more likely than others to be in prison for a violent offense but less likely to be serving a sentence for drugs.
• Veterans in State prison reported higher levels of alcohol abuse and lower levels of drug abuse than other prisoners.
• While the number of US veterans is delcining, the number of veterans held in prison or jail is rising.
• Nearly 60% of Veterans incarcerated served in the Army.
• Among State prisoners the median age of veterans was 10 years higher than that of the non-veterans.
• Among violent State prisoners, over two-thirds of veterans knew their victims.
• Combat Veterans were no more likely to be violent offenders than non-combat veterans.
• Among State prisoners, veterans had less extensive criminal histories than non-veterans.
• Criminal histories of combat veterans was less serious than other veterans in prison.
• Veterans sentences averaged 3 years longer than non-veterans.
• Less than one third of combat veterans reported using drugs in the month before their offense.
• Reports of prior alcohol abuse and dependence was higher among veteran prisoners.
• Incarcerated veterans were more likely to report a mental illness.
• Incarcerated veterans were as likely as non-veterans to have been homeless when arrested.

To read the entire report, you can go to:  Veterans In Prison or Jail Report  You must have Acrobat Reader to view this report.