Corrections Officers: How do you identify incarcerated veterans in your facilities? Do you have programs that help you connect with them?

SSG Carlos Madden — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 10:03:55 -0400

I heard a couple of corrections officers speak yesterday about pilot programs they are trying out to rehabilitate incarcerated veterans and help them transition back into the civilian world. They have an outreach officer, who is also a fellow veteran, working in the prison who tries to identify and connect with incarcerated veterans. Does anyone else have a program similar this? How has it worked?

Response by ENS Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2016 10:10 AM

ENS Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 10:10:49 -0400

This is a brilliant idea.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Aug 4 at 2016 10:11 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 10:11:52 -0400

My wife is a CO here in Texas, there are no recognition or separate programs she is aware of in this system.
Much like basic training individual identity is not observed or addressed. (individual needs yes)

Response by SSG Jeremy Sharp made Aug 4 at 2016 10:58 AM

SSG Jeremy Sharp — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 10:58:09 -0400

I worked in the field of Corrections in various positions her in the state of Ohio. Most all of the institutions I worked in had veterans programs and outreach programs sponsored by the VA. The outreach program worked both ways and the incarcerated veterans helped the programs by completing community service projects for the organizations that they linked up with

Response by SFC(P) John McLaughlin made Aug 4 at 2016 11:17 AM

SFC(P) John McLaughlin — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 11:17:41 -0400

In Pennsylvania there are a couple of institutions that have started a veterans only housing unit. Some facilities have a veterans outreach program that has staff on the board.

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Aug 4 at 2016 11:44 AM

Capt Tom Brown — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 11:44:35 -0400

Can't think of a much better idea or program to reach incarcerated vets. Can you recall anything about what organization the speakers came from or how to get in touch with their program on line to look into it. I would go so far as to forward the program specifics to our own state agency (not that they would say or do anything) for their possible consideration and to inquire if TX had such a program.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 4 at 2016 12:03 PM

PO1 John Miller — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 12:03:24 -0400

My Father In Law, a Marine Corps veteran, is a CO in California. I'll ask him if his department has any veteran inmate programs.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2016 12:58 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 12:58:54 -0400

Honestly, you can smell it on them. Sooner or later they will bring it up.

Response by SSG Drew Cook made Aug 4 at 2016 2:15 PM

SSG Drew Cook — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 14:15:59 -0400

Very much something more institutions should look into. I worked on a documentary when I lived in Hawaii about substance abuse, and much of our work came from interviewing the district federal judge and homeless vets on this very issue.

Response by SSG Drew Cook made Aug 4 at 2016 2:26 PM

SSG Drew Cook — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 14:26:35 -0400

I think of a program that selects certain qualified incarcerated applicants to live and work in a basic training environment, re-instilling military-style discipline while providing a job behind bars, and gradually allowing certain freedoms and rights as they progress, sort of like a probation or halfway-house as they prepare to transition back into civilian society.

Response by SFC William Johnson made Aug 4 at 2016 2:48 PM

SFC William Johnson — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 14:48:48 -0400

Prior to entering the army I was a CO in Tennessee. We didn't have a program specifically for veterans, but I always found a way to acknowledge their previous life. We did have a boot camp program for non-violent inmates, who if successful, could get an early release and instill much needed discipline.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2016 4:52 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 16:52:33 -0400

They usually have Moto tats.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2016 6:16 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 06:16:47 -0400

Before I enlisted I was a CO in WA State. We had some veteran inmates but there was no program specialized for them.

Response by SSG Byron Hewett made Aug 5 at 2016 11:11 AM

SSG Byron Hewett — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 11:11:40 -0400

My facility does not, but in the years I have been in corrections I have run across 4 and they were women and I found out by accident either by the mannerisms or something they said that zeroed me in on their service it is at that point I ask them if their case manager knows that they are a VET and if not will let the case manager know, and I will give the case manager V.A. case management some basic contact information so they can get the ball rolling for VETS so they can get a good start back into the real world something they may not have been able to get when they left Military life.
I know its big step in the right direction because when I retired from the Army I had a huge support system already in place and it made all the difference in the world.
I also think that getting the ball rolling for our own before the get out of prison or Jail that the recidivism rate for them will go down and keep them out of the judicial system with the support they need.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Aug 6 at 2016 3:44 AM

LTC Trent Klug — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 03:44:40 -0400

We had thought about starting out group where I worked at, but there wasn't enough interest from either staff or inmates. I had thought about being the staff member responsible but some of the incarcerated veterans I worked with weren't worth me volunteering my time. And I just couldn't see myself listening to inmates like media darling/convicted murderer Jeffrey MacDonald and convicted spy Harold Nicholson.

Response by SPC George Kendrick made Aug 7 at 2016 1:47 AM

SPC George Kendrick — Sun, 07 Aug 2016 01:47:36 -0400

I was a correctionsl officer for 10 1/2 years at a (CM) close management facility in Florida. They had instituted a statewide program while I was there, in an effort to reduce recidivism. The re-entry program. It's focus was providing inmates with the common skills neccessary to achieve financial stability, prepare them to readjust to society, and prevent them from returning to prison. Only imates who had a year or less left in their sentence qualified for the program. The inmates in this program were housed in a seperate dorm than the rest of the population. They had their own recreation yard, and ate chow seperate from the general population as well. They took preparatory classes in their dorm. There was also a veterans program. They performed drill and flag duty for various ceremonies. They also were all housed in their own dormitory.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2016 1:09 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 13:09:44 -0400

Not sure if Texas still has it but I do know they had a pilot program going at Travis County State Jail. A Veterans only dorm as well.

Response by SGT Myles Taylor made Aug 13 at 2016 12:11 PM

SGT Myles Taylor — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 12:11:34 -0400

I'm a CO with the fl doc and at my institution we actually have a veterans dorm and all vets are given a tag for their ID card with branch of service and the American legion post number 403 for the veterans dorm.

I am not a fan of it as most of them in that dorm are child molesters who had victims under 12.

Response by SPC Jerod Edmondson made Aug 24 at 2016 9:09 PM

SPC Jerod Edmondson — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 21:09:25 -0400

Oregon has veteran units a different institutions. They are planning on brings in companion dogs to the unit with in a few months. I belive two Rivers already has the program up and running.

Response by PV2 Robert Bowne made Sep 22 at 2016 12:47 PM

PV2 Robert Bowne — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 12:47:02 -0400

California has some vet programs within the prison system but a lot of the vets that are in the system there abuse a lot of the privlages that are afforded them and also are targets of other convicts due to their military background such as fighting and other matters...

Response by TSgt Thomas Monaghan made Oct 7 at 2016 1:39 PM

TSgt Thomas Monaghan — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 13:39:03 -0400

I am A C/O in Maine and in Kennebec county they have a small Vet Ct. Other than that they don't have anything here in Maine. As a retired USAF I try to do as much as I can to help fellow vets who are in my jail. The real issue is when the Military is done with the Desert Storm/on they just discard like trash .

Response by SGT Jose Mercado made Oct 18 at 2016 6:17 AM

SGT Jose Mercado — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 06:17:12 -0400

I'm retired c/o 12yrs at sci Chester in PA. At one time we had programs but once the person who ran the program retired all thinks just went away.