HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — A new program at Falkenburg Road Jail in Hillsborough County aims to help incarcerated veterans turn their life around. Sheriff Chad Chronister detailed the new Veterans Resurgence Program Tuesday morning.
- New veterans resurgence program in Hillsborough
- Program aims to help veterans turn their life around
- Program launched at Falkenburg Road Jail
The program features a housing unit that has 60 beds for incarcerated veterans. Any inmate who served in the military can participate. Right now, 34 inmates are enrolled. Sheriff Chronister says on any given day, there are about 60 veterans in the county's detention facility.
Through the program, the veterans will have access to group therapy sessions, mental health, and substance abuse assessments, and help in finding employment once they’re released. The inmates will also get assistance in finding what services are available to them once they return to life outside of jail. The goal of the program is for no one to return to jail after being released.
“Any service member who is associated back with whatever branch of service they’ve been a part of, there’s an instant sense of pride that’s restored so that’s where it all starts,” Chronister said.
Johnny Garcia is one of the inmates enrolled in the program. He says he hopes it helps him turn his life around.
"I absolutely appreciate that they are offering this program and would love to have the opportunity, given the tools they are providing, to actually make a change so that I do not make poor choices in the future,” he said.