Orange County Veterans Court Judge One of Their Own

Orange County programs give veterans a second chance 
Programs designed to help vets who landed on wrong side of the law
WESH 2 News Orlando
By Michelle Meredith
UPDATED 6:21 PM EDT May 07, 2015

"This is as beneficial to me as it is to them because we all left the military with issues,” said Orange County Judge Jerry Brewer, who is a former U.S. Marine.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. —Florida has the second highest number of veterans in the United States, and when those service members return home, many find themselves fighting different battles, like homelessness, unemployment and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Orange County has created two specialized programs that are designed to address the needs of veterans within the criminal justice system.

Clyde Walker went from serving his country to serving time. He said he came home from Vietnam a changed man.

“Vietnam was hell,” Walker said. “Sometimes you see your brothers with an arm gone or a leg gone. Life is totally different … for a long, long time I didn't have control of me."

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, up to 20 percent of veterans who recently returned home have PTSD.

The National Center for PTSD said 30 percent of Vietnam War veterans dealt with the disorder in their lifetime.

Whether they’re dealing with addiction or anger management, many veterans with PTSD act out in ways that land them behind bars.

“We all make mistakes. There is opportunity for recovery. I am a big believer in second chances, if you genuinely want a second chance,” Orange County Jail Chief Cornita A. Riley said.

The Orange County jail not provides dorms reserved exclusively for veterans.

The dorms house up to 30 inmates and run like the military.
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