Behind Bars, Not Beyond Help

When people picture the veteran community, veterans in prison rarely feature in the image. Yet they are there, in significant numbers, and they are among the least visible and least supported members of a community that already faces substantial barriers to accessing the help it is entitled to.

Research suggests that veterans may be slightly over-represented within the prison population compared with their proportion of the wider population, although estimates vary depending on how veteran status is identified. Studies have estimated that between three and five per cent of people in prisons in England and Wales have previously served in the Armed Forces, compared with around two per cent of the wider population. The reasons are complex and rarely attributable to a single cause, but they are familiar to those working in veteran welfare.

How veterans end up in the justice system

The pathway is rarely straightforward and seldom involves the kind of deliberate criminality that the word ‘criminal’ can sometimes suggest. More commonly, it reflects a combination of factors, including untreated PTSD or other mental health conditions, alcohol or substance misuse that began as a coping strategy, difficulties adjusting to civilian life, financial hardship, relationship breakdown and homelessness.

For veterans who entered service at a young age, spent much of their adult life within the military environment and left without adequate transition support, the civilian world can feel genuinely unfamiliar. Their skills are real and highly transferable, but civilian systems do not always recognise or respond to the unique experiences that military service can bring. Without the right support during transition, circumstances can deteriorate quickly and lead to crisis.

Who veterans in prison actually are

Veterans in custody are not a uniform group. Some are serving short sentences for offences linked to mental health difficulties, substance misuse or personal crisis. Others are serving longer sentences for more serious offences. Their backgrounds span every branch of the Armed Forces, every era of service and every type of military role, from front-line combat to engineering, logistics and technical support.

What often becomes apparent when speaking with veterans in prison settings is a combination of qualities shaped by military service that can make accessing support more difficult. Resilience can mask genuine need. Self-reliance can make asking for help feel like failure. Many have a strong desire to rebuild their lives but lack the information, confidence or support needed to take the first steps.

Many veterans in custody have not had a meaningful conversation about their military service, health or future for many years. When they are given the opportunity to speak with someone who understands military life and approaches them without judgement, engagement often improves. Veteran-specific in-reach, delivered by people with an understanding of military culture, is widely recognised as helping many veterans access support they might otherwise avoid.

The support that reaches in

Support for veterans in custody has developed considerably in recent years, although provision still varies between prisons. Prisons in England and Wales routinely ask new arrivals whether they have previously served in the Armed Forces, helping to identify veterans and refer them to specialist support where it is available. Many establishments now have veteran champions, peer support groups and in-reach services delivered by organisations such as SSAFA, the Royal British Legion and Combat Stress.

Op COURAGE, the NHS mental health service for veterans, can be accessed by veterans in custody as well as those living in the community. Veterans’ Gateway (0808 802 1212) can also help veterans understand what support they may be entitled to and how to access it.

Swansea Veterans’ Hub, through its work at HMP Swansea, provides a strong example of what can be achieved when veteran-specific outreach is delivered by people who understand military life and approach veterans without judgement. Many veterans who had previously disengaged from support have become more willing to engage with services that recognise and respect their military background.

Life after custody

For veterans leaving prison, resettlement often mirrors many of the same challenges faced when leaving the Armed Forces, but with the added barriers that a criminal record can create. Finding suitable housing, securing employment, rebuilding family relationships and accessing healthcare all require navigating complex systems that are not always designed with veterans in mind.

Launchpad operates supported housing schemes for veterans in Liverpool, Newcastle and Durham, helping those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The Forces Employment Charity offers employment support to veterans regardless of criminal record. SSAFA provides welfare casework and practical support for veterans and their families without judgement and without conditions.

No veteran should feel that their circumstances place them beyond help. Support exists, even for those facing some of life’s greatest challenges. The task is making sure veterans in custody and those leaving prison know that help is available and are able to access it when they need it most.

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Author: Tony G