Texas Judge, Sheriff, Create Specialized Program for Incarcerated Vets

MCKINNEY, Texas, Nov. 7, 2018 /PRNewswire/ —  VALOR (Veterans Accessing Lifelong Opportunities for Rehabilitation) is a groundbreaking program that offers work opportunities and extensive treatment alternatives for felony and misdemeanor Veteran offenders who either face the prospect of incarceration or who are already incarcerated. This program is available for veterans from across the State of Texas. The program is an unprecedented collaborative effort between the North Texas Regional Veterans Court, Collin County Community Supervision and Corrections Department (CSCD) and the Collin County Sheriff’s Office.

The program was created by Judge John Roach of the North Texas Veterans Court. “While presiding over Veterans Court I realized that there was a gap in services for Veterans who become incarcerated,” Roach said. “Rather than having the Veteran just sitting there doing time, I wanted a way to provide substantive treatment for those struggling Veterans with invisible wounds. There is no doubt in my mind that the VALOR program will be a model for the Country.”

The VALOR program is rehabilitation (physically, mentally, emotionally, morally, spiritually) and reintegration focused and is designed to help Veteran defendants develop better decision-making and coping skills, provide them with the necessary tools to enhance their well-being, and assist with their reintegration into society.

In the VALOR program, detained Veterans are housed together, mimicking the unit structure familiar to Veterans. Veterans are surrounded by others who are suffering from similar mental illnesses, substance abuse issues, and unhealthy coping mechanisms and who understand the sacrifice of military service. Putting them together allows them to begin to heal through unit bonding, allowing them to be open and vulnerable and to assist one another. Veteran-specific programming is offered by qualified treatment providers, who have experience working with Veterans or are Veterans themselves, providing an integrative and holistic approach for re-entry based on treatment plans developed by licensed clinicians to comprehensively address their individual needs.

The program will have its opening ceremony on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, at 2 p.m. It will be held at the Collin County Minimum Security Facility located at 4800 Community, McKinney, Texas and will initially be able to treat 15 Veterans at a time with plans to be able to house 30 within the year.

PRESS CONTACT – Brennan Rivera-Jones, 469-974-7731, brijones@co.collin.tx.us

Related Images

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VALOR Logo and Military Seals
The VALOR logo and Military Seals adorn the minimum security facility where the veterans are housed. This is a constant reminder to the veteran that despite there circumstances they are given this opportunity because of their military service.

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Judge Roach and Sheriff Skinner
Veteran Court Judge John Roach and Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner discuss their innovative VALOR Program.

SOURCE North Texas Veterans Court