Veterans Justice Outreach Act of 2015

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Oct 1, 2015

Veterans Justice Outreach Act of 2015

This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a program to support veterans in contact with the criminal justice system by discouraging unnecessary criminalization of mental illness and other nonviolent crimes.

The program shall be carried out in partnership with local law enforcement, judicial, and community-based treatment and legal assistance organizations.

The VA shall establish coordinators to provide program outreach.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] · D–NH

Committees

Veterans' Affairs Committee

12 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Oct 1, 2015
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Oct 1, 2015
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Oct 1, 2015 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 12, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze S.2120 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.2120, 114th Congress: Veterans Justice Outreach Act of 2015

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/2120

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-10-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s2120/BILLS-114s2120is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:11:32Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.2120 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.2120 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.2120, 114th Congress: Veterans Justice Outreach Act of 2015

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/2120

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-10-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s2120/BILLS-114s2120is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:11:32Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2120 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.2120 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.2120, 114th Congress: Veterans Justice Outreach Act of 2015

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/2120

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-10-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s2120/BILLS-114s2120is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:11:32Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2120 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Liberty lens

Examine S.2120 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.2120, 114th Congress: Veterans Justice Outreach Act of 2015

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/2120

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-10-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s2120/BILLS-114s2120is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:11:32Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2120 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.