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would need to wear many hats there is a line where “no man is left
in their future careers, including behind,” we—as civilians—need to Program Limitations
interacting with the public. Special consider the journey that brought Approval for housing in
permissions had to be requested these justice-involved veterans to the unit at the Joint Processing
from UHD’s Internal Review Board jail. An individual, civilian, or ser- Center requires that certain
to pursue this endeavor. vice member responds differently medical and mental health
to situations and circumstances that conditions of the veteran
The Cost impact their life, for better or worse. inmates are stable. Otherwise,
The Brothers in Arms program they could be denied access to
is not grant-funded; therefore, Program Successes the program if another build-
any military-themed decorations, Since beginning this mission in ing is better equipped for
upgrades in television equipment, October 2018, the veteran popula- treating their ailment.
county-issued laptop, and services tion had decreased at Harris County Veteran inmates with spe-
provided by the program coordi- Jail from 312 to 215 as of April 2021. cial housing requirements—
nator are furnished by Sheriff Ed Many variables could explain this such as sex-offenders or
Gonzales and the Harris County drop in population, such as bail administrative separation clas-
Sheriff’s Office. All other resources reform and pretrial releases for sifications and escape risks—
and classes are provided by com- lower-level offenses and prison are not allowed to house in
munity partners and the volunteers time for higher-level charges, but the unit, limiting access to the
who offer their services and time to the participants of the Brothers in program. These veterans must
the program participants. Arms program leave custody from be serviced one-on-one from
There is no additional cost to the our jail, better informed of their their current housing location.
taxpayer for the resource educa- benefits. According to the VA, sex
tion that is available to eligible Community partners and volun- offenders are identified as
service members. Helping veterans teers have reached out to more than one of the highest veteran
understand their eligibility and how 1,200 veterans to provide resources homeless populations that
to access their benefits improves to justice-involved veterans, and utilize VA-sponsored housing.
public safety when they are released over 700 participants have partici- However, while in custody,
from incarceration. When hous- pated in the program on the unit. they are limited to where they
ing and viable employment needs Housing service members can be housed, and are not
are met, people are off the streets together creates a conducive envi- allowed in the program due to
and not committing crimes to meet ronment for the justice-involved their housing classification.
their basic needs. The medical and veteran. He is surrounded by his Sex offenders account for
mental health services provided by brothers who understand his jour- approximately 15% of our
the VA helps to stabilize the veteran ney, and he may share things that justice-involved veteran popu-
who now has other options than the he would never share with civilians. lation at the jail.
justice system during his next crisis. This has created an environment
Addressing anger issues, bound- that reduces violence, behavioral
aries, and unhealthy relationships issues with staff, and a safe place time, and the same level of cleanli-
allows the veteran to understand where a veteran no longer feels ness is standard every time. 
meaningful connections with oth- alone. He has found his broth-
ers. Those meaningful connections ers who can assist him with those
help to improve the veteran’s sup- demons that can be triggered by Heide Laser is a chaplaincy case
port system and relationship with those who don’t understand. The manager/program coordinator for the
his family. Finally, if the veteran Brothers in Arms program has only Brothers in Arms program at Harris
is convicted of his charge and will had seven physical altercations in County Jail in Texas, a 72-man unit
be transferred to prison, he needs the program since February 2019. designed for justice-involved veterans.
to learn about apportionment and Veterans take pride in their She received a BS in criminal justice at
UHD and was a student of Dr. Judith
other resources to assist his family space. The Brothers in Arms unit is Harris’ senior seminar class in 2014.
while incarcerated. cleaned regularly in ways that only She coordinates volunteers, community
The highest cost is when we, as a veteran can make happen. The partners, and UHD students to provide
a society, do nothing to help those men take pride in and appreciate veteran-specific resources to meet the
needs of the most extensive veteran
who provided a service to our coun- their space, their brothers, and their services program in Texas. She can be
try. Although most veterans are not unit. In other words, anyone can contacted at heide.laser@sheriff.hctx.
in the justice system and may think walk through their unit at any given net.

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