Incarcerated Veterans
by Pat Lavin

This Web Page is designed for the many incarcerated veterans who do not have a voice. Those individuals, who fought for our country, came home from war and cannot tell others or are afraid to voice their thoughts and opinions.

I am the Chairman for Incarcerated Veterans for the Pennsylvania Vietnam Veterans of America (PA VVA). For the last twenty years I have worked inside Graterford State Correctional Institution, Graterford, Pennsylvania as a Vocational Guidance Counselor. The veterans of Graterford have Chapter 466 of the PA VVA. For many years I have worked with the many veterans that came home and never left the war. Sadly enough, these veterans have fought for help and have been ignored for their PTSD/TBI concerns. In recent years veterans throughout Pennsylvania have three VVA Chapters (466 Graterford, 359 Cresson, and 679 Huntingdon), and report more than 1,054 members.

The incarcerated veterans in Pennsylvania remain to be hidden. Some come forward to be identified yet others prefer not to step out.

This web page will address concerns with the PTSD/TBI problems, veteran’s benefits for those who are incarcerated, and will serve as a site for family members to link to sites for housing and benefit information.

Questions or concerns with these web pages may be directed to me at plavinsr@comcast.net.

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