Page 24 - 2021_American Jails NovDec

them at the office for the veteran
to pick up upon release from jail.
The proximity of the PDO office is
within walking distance from the
jail.
From the connection with the
PDO, we had an opportunity to
hear the testimony of Anthony
Graves. He was the 138th person
Opening Day prayer circle exonerated from death row after
spending 18 years in custody for a
Ideally, the veteran’s discharge classes, a certificate of completion is crime he did not commit. He is also
process would be in position so provided to participants. the author of Infinite Hope, a book
that on the day he leaves the jail, Authentic Manhood is another about his journey that also details
he could smoothly transition beneficial class that is provided vir- how to maintain a positive mental
straight to his VA accommoda- tually to participants of Brothers in attitude when everything else is
tions. Previously, if the veteran Arms. This class has three volumes against you.
was released on short notice (such of six sessions each and gives the A direct result of this interac-
as he signs for time-served and is men a healthy concept of manhood tion was that a participant decided
released the same day as court), from a faith-based perspective. Each to create a book club focused on
though the assessment paperwork man is presented with a certificate Infinite Hope. He wrote a very
was completed while in custody, upon completion of the class, which impactful letter to Mr. Graves
there may be a short housing gap is presented in court as evidence of asking if he would facilitate and
that would release him to the street. class participation while in custody. discuss the book with eight of his
Now, however, that gap is filled by Many of the men feel this is the fellow brothers who were close to
a temporary facility that allows the very impactful class, and if they had losing hope while in custody.
veteran to stay three to five days participated in such a class earlier in The books for the club were
until his housing accommodations life, their involvement in the justice donated by a family member of one
are available. system may have been avoided. of the participants, and Mr. Graves
These new services collaborated agreed to contribute two hours
closely with Henry Molden at New Connections every week to speak to these men.
the VA to ensure that participants A new partner connection Hearing from someone who has
were not left homeless during the made in 2021 for the Brothers in lived experience of which they are
pandemic. Moving forward, we Arms program was a collabora- also living is more impactful than
anticipate that these services will tion with a new division at the speaking to a therapist who has not
continue post-pandemic as they Harris County Public Defender’s experienced incarceration.
are vital to the veteran’s release Office (PDO). Advocates from the The partnership with the UHD
planning. Holistic Services Division can aid Senior Seminar students needed
with obtaining vital documents adjustment as well. Without stu-
Additional Classes and clearing barriers that may be dent access to the jail, Zoom was
In January 2021, two vir- problematic for the individual upon approved as a method of providing
tual classes were added: Anger release. classes to program participants. Dr.
Management and Parenting, Many veterans cannot obtain Harris and I had to develop a cre-
which both focus on how anger housing or employment due to a ative way to meet the class’s learn-
can affect children. All partici- lack of identification, stability, or ing needs and provide a valuable
pants are required to participate additional issues with the criminal experience to the Harris County Jail.
in both classes—regardless if they justice system. With permission The solution was for students to
are currently a parent—because from the attorney on the current research topics and issues relating
the Parenting class could provide criminal charge, the PDO advocate to justice-involved veterans then
insight into how they were raised can assist with these items and com- create a recorded video teaching
and how they are affected by their municate needs one-on-one with the the veterans what they have discov-
upbringing. Many of the veterans Brothers in Arms participant virtu- ered. In return, the veterans would
appreciate the valuable points ally. If the veteran does not have a provide feedback on how the mes-
learned in these classes. After 10 stable address to receive the vital sage was presented and received.
documents, the PDO can accept The idea was that the students

22 | NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2021 AMERICANJails