Florida Department of Corrections to Hold Open House of its Veteran's Dormitory

Newly established program to assist inmate Veterans

INDIANTOWN— Martin Correctional Institution Warden Thomas Reid will host a press conference and open house Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at Martin CI to announce the Department’s newest re-entry initiative, the Veteran’s Dormitory Program. Veteran’s programs have been established at five Florida prisons: Martin, Gulf, Santa Rosa, Sumter and Lowell Correctional Institutions.

When:	Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Time:	10 AM EST
Where:	Martin Correctional Institution 1150 S.W. Allapattah Road Indiantown, Florida
Directions:	Take I-95 to Exit 110 (State Road 714). Go west to 4-way stop sign. Turn right onto SR-609. Martin is approximately three miles on the left side. Turnpike directions: Take turnpike to Stuart exit. Take first left onto State Road 714 to stop sign. Turn right onto State Road 609. The institution is approximately three miles on the left side.
Who:	Florida Department of Corrections Warden Thomas Reid, Assistant Warden Devere Inman, Florida Department of Corrections members and inmates who are military veterans.
Why:	Veteran’s Dormitories will house inmates who have served in the military and are within three years of release from prison, providing them the opportunity to participate in specialized pre-release services such as cognitive thinking training, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) counseling, improved access to Veteran’s Affairs Benefits and strict military standards for Veteran’s Dormitories.

The Mission of the Florida Department of Corrections is to protect the public by operating safe and secure prisons and to assist inmates and offenders with their re-entry into society. Inmates living in Veteran’s Dormitories will have an incentive to maintain their good behavior while in prison and will be more likely to live as law-abiding people upon release. 

There will be photo, video and audio opportunities for reporters in addition to interviews.