Justice Stratton urges use of Veterans Justice Outreach to identify incarcerated veterans

Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton told the committee that Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) specialists can identify veterans entering the criminal justice system and immediately connect them with VA services — housing, treatment, employment help and health exams — without the delays of local systems.

"These are assigned to every single hospital veterans hospital in the country, and their job is to identify veterans who come into the system who are arrested and immediately connect them with services," Justice Stratton said, describing successful implementations in Butler and Ross counties where dozens of veterans were identified quickly after the program began. She asked the committee to consider a provision in SB179 that would codify an Attorney General opinion allowing Veterans Service Commission funds (derived from a 5% property tax allocation) to be used to fund veterans‑court liaisons or peer mentors.

Stratton described the VJO process as low lift for local sheriffs or probation officers and said that funding clarity would help counties place personnel to help veterans access VA resources and, when available, veterans courts. She framed the bill as a way to get veterans help "before they die after action," and connected the work to her personal family loss from Agent Orange exposure.

The committee accepted proponent testimony and noted written testimony from veterans groups and the Ohio Justice and Policy Center. No vote was taken during the hearing.

The written and oral record references the Veterans Justice Outreach program, the Veterans Service Commission funding mechanism, and state and local implementation examples.