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volunteer veteran mentors working
in unison to help the veteran avoid
incarceration.
So far, the data has been positive
but further research is likely needed
to maximize the effectiveness of
this initiative. Due to its early suc-
cesses in 2018, President Trump
passed the Veteran Treatment Court
Improvement Act of 2018 requiring
the Department of Veteran Affairs
to hire at least 50 Veteran Outreach
Specialists. Each of these special-
ists must serve as part of a justice
team in a Veterans Treatment court
or another veteran-focused court.
Unfortunately, smaller jurisdictions
may need to implement a simpler,
more practical and cost-effective
approach to veteran reforms—vet-
eran pods.

Garland County’s Veteran Unit
In January of 2016, under
the leadership of Sheriff Mike
McCormick and at the direction
of Chief Mark Chamberlain, the
Veteran’s Only Unit at the GCDC
opened with its first 7 veterans
with a capacity to hold 12. The
unit was established by Captain
Belinda Cosgrove, CJM, Operations
Director, a woman who is no
stranger to transforming lives. The
number of lives she has touched
cannot be estimated but, I can
assure you, it is extraordinary.
(Capt. Cosgrove is also the 2018
recipient of AJA’s Correctional
Supervisor of the Year Award.)
The specific candidates were
identified by Sergeant Mann, our
Classification Sergeant, who is also with Phyllis Wilkins of the Veteran As a result of their efforts, the
a veteran and passionate about Affairs Outreach Program who GCDC received national recogni-
changing lives and assisting his visits with the veteran inmates on tion as one of the very few jails
brothers in arms. The GCDC is the a weekly basis and completes a that provided this program. The
most heavily programmed deten- risk needs assessment on any new veterans enjoy being housed with
tion facility, and the only ACA- inmates accepted into the program. other veterans. They share com-
accredited detention facility the She coordinates with the VA and mon experiences and offer support
state of Arkansas. As such, it made the courts on behalf of the veterans. for one another by communicating
perfect sense that it would also Collectively, their goal is to provide their life struggles, and they receive
become the first jail in Arkansas veterans with the necessary treat- positive solutions from their fellow
with a Veterans Unit. ment and assistance to allow for brothers in arms. They tend to hold
Upon opening the unit, Captain a successful reentry back into the each other accountable in this envi-
Cosgrove and Sgt. Mann partnered community. ronment because it gives them a

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