Challenges

1
Challenges Opportunities

• Incarcerated Veterans

2
Presenters

• Lt. Barbara Taylor
• Inmate Processing Commander
• Juvenile Assessment Center Director
• Experience
• 23 years with the Pasco Sheriffs Office
• Education
• Bachelors Degree
• Social Science Public Administration
• Certified Jail Manager

• Jessica Porter
• Inmate Programs Coordinator
• Experience
• 5 years with the Pasco Sheriffs Office
• Education
• Masters Degree
• Public Administration

3
History of the Veterans Housing Unit

• The idea was the result of an FBI leadership
  training class in Quantico, Va.
• With Sheriff Noccos approval, research was
  conducted into programs at other facilities which
  could be used as a template.
• Staff visited Orange Countys detention facility
  to observe their Veterans Unit and programs.
• Identification of veterans commenced during
  inmate classification interviews.
• Contact was made with community and governmental
  organizations which serve the veteran population.

4
Veterans Treatment Court

• History
• In 2013, the Florida Legislature approved
  funding for the purpose of creating a pretrial
  felony or misdemeanor veterans treatment
  intervention program.
• The model here is smart justice making sure
  that we prioritize treatment over incarceration
  so that veterans do not fall through the cracks
  and do not re-offend. Assistant State Attorney
  Chris Sprowls

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Veterans Treatment Court

• On October 1, 2013, Sixth Circuit Chief Judge
  Thomas McGrady signed Administrative Order
  2013-063 PA/PI-CIR creating the Veterans
  Treatment Court in Pinellas and Pasco Counties.
• The purpose of the Veterans Treatment Court is
  to comprehensively address, through collaboration
  between the court system, treatment providers,
  and the United States Department of Veterans
  Affairs, the service-related mental health and
  substance abuse issues of certain veterans and
  members of the United States Armed Forces who are
  charged with criminal offenses. The goal is to
  reduce recidivism through treatment.

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Veterans Treatment Court

• Eligibility criteria
• The defendant is a veteran or service-member.
• The defendant suffers from a military
  service-related mental illness, traumatic brain
  injury, substance abuse disorder, or
  psychological problem.
• The charges are misdemeanors or some lesser
  felonies.
• The defendant has not previously participated in
  VTC.
• Other factors include
• Facts of the case
• The input of the victim
• The defendants criminal record
• The defendants relevant service records

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Veterans housing unit

• Pasco Sheriffs Office

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Services

• Veterans Service Office
• Military Records
• Explanation of Benefits
• Vets Center
• Individual Sessions for Veterans suffering from
  Combat or Military Sexual Trauma
• Bi-weekly Life Skills Classes For All Vets
• Once a Warrior, Always a Warrior
• By Charles W. Hoge, MD, Colonel (Ret.) US Army

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Services

• University of South Florida
• Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Accelerated Resolution Therapy
• Reduction of symptoms by having the patient move
  his or her eyes from right to left, following the
  therapists waving hand.
• The patient is asked to imagine a positive way to
  remember the experience, which replaces the
  previously traumatic one.
• Usually one to three sessions
• No homework outside of sessions
• No verbalization of the traumatic events

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Services

• Supportive Services for Veteran Families
• Housing First Philosophy
• After housing is established, a variety of other
  services are offered which support stability
  sobriety
• SSVF has already secured housing for at least one
  veteran after his release
• Developing understanding in agency members
  through
• Crisis Intervention Training
• Assigning veterans when possible
• Deputies
• Mental Health Workers
• Display of flag and military symbols
• in housing unit

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Challenges

• Limited time for interventions
• Transitory population
• Classification
• Self-Reporting
• Space staff constraints
• Chronic mental illness
• Chronic homelessness
• Combating the mentality
• Suspicion cynicism about government
• Female veteran inmates less receptive to services
• Complexity of the V.A. system

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Opportunities

• Increase awareness of V.A. funded programs.
• At-risk population uninformed about local
  resources.
• Establish relationships with community partners
  prior to release.
• Veterans are more apt to seek out help when
  released if they make this personal connection
  while incarcerated.
• Recognition of military service helps restore
  dignity and confidence.

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Ultimate Goal

• Reduce recidivism, create a stronger community
  for our veterans, and repay the debt we owe to
  them for their sacrifice and service.