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“It makes sense from an operations
standpoint, and it makes sense from
a financial standpoint.”

Opportunities and Access
The Veterans’ Tier was estab-
lished eight years ago. The men
housed on this tier have opportu-
nities to participate in work such
as jail laundry and sanitation, and
they are paid at a higher rate than
general population jail workers as
an acknowledgment for their ser-
vice to our country. In addition to
each other, the men on this tier have
access to a veteran’s liaison, Cook
County Department Corrections
Officer John Coddington, who
works with all individuals in cus-
tody who have self-identified as
serving in the military.
Specialized Tier you may not know the person or
The Veterans’ Tier is a leading have never met that person, per se, During the jail intake process,
example of specialized services the fact that they are a veteran cre- individuals are asked if they served
offered at the Cook County Jail. ates an automatic bond.” in the Armed Forces. Coddington,
The jail is recognized for tackling Other men on the tier have noted himself a veteran, meets with them
the connection between poverty, how the men are supportive of one to obtain information to get copies
substance use and mental health, another. Dexter, an Army veteran, of their DD 214 forms. This form
and the criminal justice system. The said he feels at ease being among verifies the inmate’s military service
approach to the challenges that vet- men who have a shared experience. and can help them with obtaining a
erans confront is just as intense. “Here, you are a little more at State ID and benefits. It also opens
The Veterans’ Tier is located off peace,” Dexter said. “There is not the door for programs that can help
the main compound at the jail’s any type of friction.” with housing and employment after
they are released. Coddington finds
former boot camp. The housing is Having the men live together can the work fulfilling.
barrack-style with a separate educa- help to reinforce the tools that they
tion building and large outdoor are learning when they participate These men have served our
area. The men are housed in the in the programming during the country, he said, regardless of their
same barrack, and they participate day, said Dr. Jane Gubser, the jail’s current situations. “They are part of
in trauma-informed programming executive director and a licensed the 1% of the country that decided
geared toward their unique situa- clinical psychologist. The men can to go into the Armed Services,”
tions. Justice-involved veterans are practice what they learn with each Coddington said.
not only navigating the complexi- other outside of the classroom and Navigating benefits post-
ties of the criminal justice system, feel more like a team, Gubser said. service is challenging on its own.
but they may also be dealing with Incarceration and then a pandemic
trauma endured during their Programming tiers at the jail, just makes it more complicated. As
service. such as the veterans housing unit, COVID-19 spread in March 2020, I
The men, who range in age and have fewer incidents than general took the precaution of pausing all
life experiences, help each other out, population tiers. Fewer incidents programming in the jail and limit-
mean fewer confrontations, which
Ernest said. He believes that having means fewer injuries, fewer staff ing movement to reduce the spread
the common connection of military responses, and less overtime. What of the virus. The Veterans’ Tier
service is the reason. does increase, however, is safety for was no exception, but Coddington
“Being a veteran is like being a staff and for the men on the tier. continued to work with his Veterans
part of a brotherhood,” Ernest said. “It makes sense from a human- Affairs contacts to get DD 214 forms
for those individuals who needed
“It’s like having your blood brother, istic standpoint,” Gubser said of them.
your family with you. Even though
creating these programming tiers.

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