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

Newly established program to assist inmate Veterans

MILTON— Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Ken Tucker along with Congressman Jeff Miller will host a press conference and open house Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at Santa Rosa 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: Santa Rosa, Gulf, Martin, Sumter and Lowell Correctional Institutions.

When:	Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Time:	10 AM CST
Where:	Santa Rosa Correctional Institution 5850 East Milton Road Milton, Florida
Directions:	From I-10 take Exit 31 (Milton/Navarre). Drive north on State Road 87 approximately one mile to US-90. Go straight across US-90 and over the railroad tracks (this is East Milton Road). Continue driving for approximately one mile. The Institution is located around the curve and on the right-hand side.
Who:	Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Ken Tucker, United States Congressman Jeff Miller, Santa Rosa CI Warden Randall Tifft , 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.