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ees opted to identify as a veteran, “The VFW flag represents that there Works Cited
even though the question is directly is hope outside, and other veterans Fausto, A. (2019, December 31), Jail
asked by staff at intake. are here to support you.” housing for veterans. Orange County
Today, detainee information is The unit has a capacity of 18 Register.
uploaded from the jail’s inmate beds, and generally there are 10 Maruschak, L. M., Bronson, J., & Alper,
management software system to persons in the unit at a time. Since M. L. (2021, March). Veterans in
prison: Survey of prison inmates.
VRSS daily to review new intakes the unit opened over two years ago, Veterans in State and Federal Prisons.
from the previous 24 hours. Lt. Lookabaugh is glad to report Retrieved from https://bjs.ojp.
According to Franklin County’s “there have been zero incidents gov/library/publications/veterans-
Major Chad Thompson in a recent in the housing unit.” Participants prison-survey-prison-inmates-2016
interview, “The VRSS system identi- share common traits that Maj. Schaffer, B. J. (2106). Incarcerated vet-
fies two to three new veterans daily Thompson and Lt. Lookabaugh erans outreach program.” Journal of
entering our jail.” think are important to success of Evidence-Informed Social Work, 13(3),
Learning that there were more the unit: They are respectful and 293–304.
veterans in the facility than ini- willing to accept set expectations,
tially realized, the FCSO decided are tolerant of one another, and they
to convert an 18-bed dormitory set expectations among themselves. Halden Tally, AIA, LEED AP BD+C,
into a veterans housing unit. To Correctional officers, who are is a justice principal based out of
qualify for the unit, veterans must mostly veterans themselves, oversee HDR’s Dallas office. His career spans
over 40 years, 25 of which focused in
be honorably discharged, charged and manage the units. justice architecture in 10 states across
with a nonviolent offense, and have According to Lt. Lookabaugh, the country. In recent years, his work
no prior significant disciplinary the correctional officers serve has focused on innovation and best
problems. as “unofficial mentors” to the practices for correctional health/mental
health and working with detention staff
Detainees are invited to partici- participants. The design of such to design facilities that complement
pate with the expectation that they units should incorporate “trauma- their programs to reduce recidivism and
participate fully in all programming informed design concepts,” says provide safe impactful environments
and provide peer support to oth- Maj. Thompson. Such concepts focused on specific outcomes. He can
be contacted at halden.tally@hdrinc.
ers. It is required that participants include daylight, fresh air, and com.
have at least 30 days left on their normative furnishings. Cleanliness
sentence. And, it is a preference, but and orderliness are important, too. Heather Lorenzo is a designer at HDR
and a recent graduate from Texas A&M
not a requirement, that detainees Beds are expected to be made, and University with a master’s degree in
are participating in the County’s property totes and shoes are to be architecture and certificate in health
Veterans Court. neatly placed under the bed. Rates systems and designs—a program that
Programming in the Veterans of recidivism for participants have promotes research, innovation, and
communication in focusing on health
Housing Unit is robust and includes not been officially tracked, but facility planning and design. Lorenzo’s
according to Lt. Lookabaugh, who
substance abuse treatment, anger has overseen the unit, he has not final study project focused on how to
management, cognitive behavioral seen a person come through the unit rethink and redesign inmate housing in
therapies, social skills development, a second time. a humane way giving them back their
team building exercises, resume dignity, hope, and value as a human
being. She can be contacted at heather.
writing, and yoga. Specialists from lorenzo@hdrinc.com.
the VA’s Veterans Justice Outreach Conclusion
Program visit the unit two to three By examining successful pro- David Bostwick, AIA, is a justice
consultant with HDR specializing in
days a week. They help connect grams for incarcerated veterans strategic master planning, needs
detainees to VA benefits, including across the country, we can gather assessments, programming, and design
health benefits, housing programs, best practices and lessons learned of criminal justice facilities. He has been
and compensation and pension and continue to transform our involved in over 75 justice projects
benefits. approach for the better. In each over his career. He currently serves as
a technical resource provider on the
Before the unit opened, the example, it is evident that focusing subject of jail planning and design for
dormitory was cleaned and painted on military culture and addressing the National Institute of Corrections,
specific population needs directly
and decorated with flags of all while also providing a strong U.S. Department of Justice. His articles
on justice planning and design have
the armed services. Military flags, network of support, sets up our been published in numerous industry
along with a VFW flag, were all veterans for positive rehabilitation journals. He can be contacted at david.
donated by the local VFW. This and success upon release.  bostwick@hdrinc.com.
gesture is significant as, according
to Lieutenant Thad Lookabaugh,

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