Full Notification

<p>HARRIS COUNTY, TX &ndash; During a surprise inspection of the Harris County Jail, Sheriff Ron Hickman stopped by the Stars and Stripes and Freedom Project cellblocks to visit with inmates benefitting from the Sheriff&rsquo;s reentry programs.</p>

<p>The Stars and Stripes program offers veterans incarcerated in the Harris County Jail access to medical and mental health care, VA assistance, group therapy, job skills training and employment counseling.&nbsp; The program boasts an 8% recidivism rate as compared to the US average recidivism rate of approximately 67.8%.</p>

<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re proud to offer then men and women that volunteered to serve our Country opportunities to better themselves after they&rsquo;ve made choices that landed them in jail,&rdquo; stated Harris County Sheriff Ron Hickman.&nbsp; &ldquo;You&rsquo;ve made a sacrifice for the Country, now it&rsquo;s our turn to give you the tools and support to turn your life around.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Over 75% of the veterans participating in the program have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve given you the tools, now it&rsquo;s up to you to change your future,&rdquo; stated Hickman.</p>

<p>The Freedom Project is the Sheriff&rsquo;s program offering drug and alcohol rehabilitation services inside the County Jail. Like Stars and Stripes, the Freedom Project (Men) boasts an impressive 3% recidivism rate.</p>

<p>&ldquo;Most often we see programs such as these operating in the State&rsquo;s prison system,&rdquo; explains Sheriff Ron Hickman. &ldquo;Our belief is that county time shouldn&rsquo;t be wasted.&nbsp; If you&rsquo;re incarcerated in Harris County, either pre or post trial, I want you to have access to the services that will help you best reenter the community.&rdquo;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>