Inside An Experimental Jail For Veterans Only (HBO)
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- Опубликовано: 31 май 2024
- In a barracks-style room in Billerica, MA, 25 veterans wake up everyday and divide into squads for PT and cleaning routines. They are not on an army base or in a VFW hall, but in a county jail.
This is HUMV, the Housing Unit for Military Veterans (the inmates came up with the name) at the Middlesex County Jail. It is one of a very small but growing number of jail units dedicated solely to veterans that have arisen across the country in recent years, and it's being used as a model for new ones.
The unit is designed to replicate aspects of the military that will make them feel supported-the walls are covered in murals of Iwo Jima, flags, insignia of the various military divisions. It’s also built around daily, targeted rehabilitative opportunities-inmates attend rigorous programming from parenting classes to PTSD counseling.
VICE News goes inside HUMV to see military life behind bars, and visits a professor and Vietnam vet who thinks these prison programs are getting one crucial thing wrong.
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VICE News goes inside HUMV to see military life behind bars, and visits a professor and Vietnam vet who thinks these prison programs are getting one crucial thing wrong.
Watch next on prison and VR technology - bit.ly/2Bviv6j
Cant_Touch_This Most of the military plays a support role. Your perception of most people being killing machines is from Hollywood.
People in the military think XYZ is a waste of money or a dumb war all the time! I don’t know why you see them as naive children that can learn how to do everything from be a doctor to fix aircraft, but can’t think critically about anything.
“I’m gonna go to lunch with my mother and brother and squeeze the life out of them”
Shiiit so I have to get locked up to get help from the VA
jorge S basically. The US doesn’t give a shit about our veterans. It’s terrible.
jorge S sad but true. I've watched my father and brothers jump through hoops just for regular va benefits...its a shame...our vets are worth so much more
I don't know your circumstances, but you could try getting together with other local veterans and getting into newspapers and onto local radio - local media is usually short of stories, and unfortunately you have to be loud to get attention sometimes.
Sadly
Lol, no. You can literally just call them or go to them and they will provide services.
I do like this because many Vets fall down to the dark paths, many to homeless or life of crime using their training for that crime. I do hope this helps them.
Only 25 inmates to the vast amount of veteran's that need our support. The main soldier got busted for theft for drug's not once but twice and yes the way it goes probably against his family and friends.
Blaze Hunter you're supposed to be paying for post battle escapades, civie :p
Any statistics or proof of your claim?
Hayden Holman, you really have no shame, do you? You’re really willing to bash men and women who signed up to defend us? Many could have gone to college, there are doctors and mechanics, lawyers and more. Yet there you are willing to say that they are dumb? Perhaps you don’t deserve the rights that those people fought to give you, that many died to protect for you. So you don’t have to fear tyrants who would love to have this country in their grasp? Course you feel safe to say this, since this is the internet. Would you so kindly go up to a veteran who served, and tell them that they are dumb and never had a plan? Of course you’d say yes, since you’re anonymous. I don’t believe you actually would.
G, i suppose you‘re right about that.
Finally, something is being done to help our veterans. Veterans who can't adapt to everyday life as easily as others deserve help.
I don't see why some people are hating this idea. Vets aren't like normal criminals. They come from a completely different culture than what's here in the states. It's hard for them to not only adjust to a civilian life style but for some to land on their feet if they have no clue what to do once they leave. A lot of them end up having mental problems and have to deal with a slow system to try and get help. Vets put their chance of a normal civilian life on hold so others don't have to. If someone comes up with a program that helps vets who are having trouble, it works, and cost the same amount as one full time employee than I see no problem with it. These men and women were willing to give their lives for us to have everything we have today. We should be willing to give them whatever they need to adjust back to a normal life.
Thank you, Zaros. Well said.
It baffles me every time to see veterans left to their own devices in a country with such an insane military budget.
It baffles me that we shouldn’t try and rehabilitate all criminals. The focus should be on making them into productive citizens, not antagonizing them. I believe that the Veteran’s wing is a crucial step towards that idea or rehabilitation.
Because the budget is going all digital age/Cyber and tech, the vets are viewed as temporary soldiers.
Most of that money is handed out to contractors
Enlist for your corporations and to defend their profits. Lay your life down to lay down pipe lines.
The military budget is for the active duty military and buying equipment from contractors. Veterans don't really matter to them any more.
I'd become a jailer just to help these Veterans. Both of my grandfather's served in Vietnam and I have nothing but respect for them.
As a veteran, this is exactly how I would want to do my time if I ever had to go to jail. It just makes good sense to separate the military vets because they know how to follow orders and should be easy as hell to manage.
Tuck3r im sure you would like that..is like taking a vacacion from a real Jail..
Tuck3r no veteran should ever be in jail they have they’re life for this country yet the country doesn’t do anything for them they should be treated better then celebrities or anyone else
Bushcraft NE lock them up if they do a crime. if they can follow orders well as they say, they can follow the law
Bushcraft NE So, if a vet commits a crime they shouldn’t go to jail? That’s stupid
literally anyone would want to do their jail time like this. it’s a shame only a small group of soldiers get to. privileged.
I love this. This is a step in the right direction. We need to help our vets before they get to this point, but I also love that they are using the same model for other groups of inmates
This program sounds real successful, just wish it was around for my ol' Dad, a WWII Army Vet who fought bravely in the South Pacific theatre, but later had a terrible time with alcoholism, something that badly affected us 5 kids growing up to love our "Daddy" but hated when he mistreated our poor Mom! i 'm sure tho generations of military Veterans differ in times, but the PTSD, shellshock, or whatever the updated vocabulary might be, they're a young men and women who served and i hope this prison program grows and helps to separate Veterans from the rest of the prison population. . .God knows they've paid the price just being in the military. Thanx for this video which actually brought me to tears that a Vet should even need to be jailed to get much needed help for them AND their families. God bless those who cared enough to start this program. Thanx again!!!
This must be a paradigm shift in the US, trying to rehab criminals instead of punishing Old Testament style and filling up prisons with convicts for life...
Simon Kefas if it is then it’s a change for good so far
Some convicts deserve to be in prison for life or executed
dog guy exactly, some. Most people don't commit unforgivable crimes though.
dog guy. Even conservative GOP’s realize the economy in rehabilitating and releasing prisoners. Prisons are very expensive for taxpayers.
Remember these men are US Military Veterans before they where criminals.
We need more programs like this. I am in love with this idea. I help the homeless a lot and at least 25% of the people I help are veterans. There right there really is no training to show them how to go from Army mode back to civilian mode. Most people think that exploding fireworks on 4th of July honor them when in reality most vets I know don't like Fourth of July because it brings back their PTSD. The Army really does condition them to fight but doesn't really condition them to rejoin normal life.
This is an amazing idea and should be implemented everywhere in America! PTSD is a real thing that destroys our vet's quality of life if not treated which often leads to poor choices. If they can't get the help they need b4 being incarcerated...the least we can do is give them this fighting chance while in prison. The sacrifices these men and women make for US and OUR freedom should count for something!
as a veteran and the wife of a veteran that was in prison...i think that they need these veteran units every.
Bella person on Facebook can you add me he’s my fiancé in the video
I don't generally agree with a lot of things in America at the moment (I'm From England) but this is a genuinely good thing they are doing, well done.
TheDayOne they should do this with all prisoners just cuz someone went to army shouldnt mean shit
Except this is being done experimentally, please do not give us more credit until we implement this on a much larger scale and give it more time to succeed.
butt head Thats too expensive and unrealistic sadly.
firefang1343 and why is that how much money does the goverment spend on bombs and drones that are used mostly to kill innocent people
Don't generally agree with monarchy myself,but that's why I'm proud to be an American.🖕
This is truly interesting.
I am very glad to see them trying methods such as this
That's dope, keep making veteran videos VICE!!
This is a very nice thing that the county has done for them get these people who came out of the army some structure
I wish they had better programs for when people get out before they get into trouble. I had a lot of anger issues when I first got out and almost ended up in military prison. Insanely thankful I was able to get out of that situation.
I really don’t see how anyone could be against this. Especially if the statistics are true and theyre not coming back to prison.
Mophie you don't make as much money if you're paying out to rehabilitate plus if you Rehabilitate them, they don't come back and then you don't get to make money it's all capitalism, for profit prison systems
As a veteran myself, I approve this.
Getting out was so much more difficult than going in.
Bella Person on Facebook my fiancé was is mike and he would love other vets to reach out
If we invested more in helping out veterans instead of pointless military projects that go nowhere we wouldn’t even need prisons like this.
Great story, more of this please!
Oh shit this was my old home town. I used to go fishing across from that jail and always wondered what was going on in there. Glad to see they’re doing something like this.
It is only fair. Programs like this need to exist. 👍
Thank you for your service.
It's fucked up that jail doesn't equal rehabilitation rather than a paycheck
Whoa, I seen that prison in person( outside). I had no idea!!
I myself served and I'm glad this program exists. Many... Sadly.. Don't ask for help😔
Great idea.
This is amazing!!
Every prisoner deserves an opportunity for this kind of respect and rehabilitation.
No, mere criminals do not deserve this level of respect. Vets however do, as many of them are left to their own devices after leaving the military. Even then doing service instantly puts you above any degenerate criminal.
Meme Machine Just because these people exemplified bravery doesn’t mean they should be the only ones with human rights
Been given a personal councilor is not a human right. To the extent of my knowledge US prisons do not break human rights. They provided food, water shelter, medical care and protection.
Vets not only show bravery but honor, character and have earned respect. Criminals have earned to be disrespected.
I personally believe it would be a grand thing if the country you call home has an obligation to help you when you don't fit in society. Be that for criminals or mentally disabled.
It would, but money aint growing on trees. And it will be virtually impossible to convince people that some degenerate criminal should get the same support as a vet.
Finally Vice some descent reporting
This wouldn’t be necessary if vets were taken care of before and after leaving the service. After serving a decade and 4 tours I was given 3 days to clear post and figure out the rest of my life. 30 days after going home I was arrested for drugs and given 5 years that I did everyday of. This program shows that the people creating these programs should be running the VA and majority of the government.
I wonder do they still get put on hold for 500hrs when calling the VA
Great idea - and great message that everyone should be getting this but start on effective group
This is excellent.
Great video vice.
This is Michaels fiancé and I just wanted everyone to know that he’s finally turned his life around and he’s literally doing amazing. ❤️
I like it. The knowingly volunteered to serve without realizing the side effects of skewing their formative adulthood years. The military hammers in a necessary lifestyle that some people are naturally unable to do by themselves. They were also taught how to survive in dangerous & violent situations while becoming addicted to either the comradery which was missing in their youth or the adrenaline of war. Either way it's easy to see someone being lost without structure and easily falling victim to another addiction, acting out to gain acceptance, or the disassociation from the general public who cannot understand the close relationships of soldiers. Call it special treatment, but it's deserved for the sacrifice
It’s good that they these rehabilitation centres can be applied to other groups of people as well
Amazing idea
It's understanding everyone differently
This is awesome
This is a great idea. Epic.
Michael, if you go back to drugs I'll be disappointed but just remember you have a support group and don't forget to ask for help when you need it. We all need it sometimes.
He didn’t ❤️
We are all rooting for you michael!
Its great to see men supporting men and getting into groups based on a shared experience. One of the big challenges for vets I think is trying to reintegrate back into a society that in some parts is too gynocentric. We need to bring back more support for men and men’s groups besides just sports. Men can make an enormous contribution to society if they are given the freedom and encouragement to do so.
Art Curious absolutely. They go from a male dominated environment with a real brother hood, where they are willing to literally lat down their lives for the guy next to them. To being in easy every day life in America where everyone expects them to just pick up and resume where they were before they left. Meanwhile they had a life changing experience. They feel left behind and unsure how to cope with this fast moving world. They lose the brothers they had in the service. Their old friends don't get it. Nobody gets it except those who have lived it.
Really? American society is a patriarchy. Men already have every freedom to "contribute" to society. Men CONTROL society. I'm not saying vets shouldn't get help when they return - of course they should. I just think it's a bit naive to think that men 'don't get to have power" once they return.
SoSuave Tips , that makes a lot more sense than other explanations. I just feel the feminization of our culture is compounding the problem. I remember working construction and landscaping after high school in order to save and pay for college.
It was a separate life track than most college students who stayed in school their entire lives and never paid for their way. I hated dorm life and the rah rah atmosphere and spent most of my time hanging out with teachers, working adults or with students who were from working class backgrounds. College was a joke in terms of maturity levels and a waste of time for many students who simply drank, played video games, and downloaded all their homework off the internet.
So I imagine the transition is even greater for a vet who takes on much more responsibility and has to mature much faster than a civilian. I’m not sure what to say in terms of career advice but some of the best teachers I had were military vets. Especially if they were teaching military history. And some of the best police officers, doctors, small business owners, and businesses leaders are all military vets.
I live near Billerica this is a awesome idea I didn’t even know about this
This is a very positive video.
This is so necessary and progressive. I hope they consider similar programs for other offenders who could benefit from rehabilitation
This is incredible! Especially for the US.
Support, treatment, rehabilitation. This is how jails work in most well-functioning countries. This is such an obvious approach to incarceration. Just roll this out to all inmates. Jail is not about punishment, it's about helping people be better citizens.
Yes
I’m from New Hampshire in Billerica all the time never knew this was a thing
This is pretty cool
I was there it saved my life!!!!
This is prison done right. Now you need to do this with the rest of the inmates. C'mon USA, you're growing up! Heeeyyy you're making your first steps to being less inhumane and more like freedom!
See this is proof that everyone is different, you cant teach or deal with everyone in the same way.
Thats Crazy bro
"experimental"....oh you mean Leavenworth?
Joe Joe, you know that's for the shit birds.
There isnt enough programs or assistance for vets. Im a Army vet and homeless and too proud to ask for help and prob going to lead me behind bars. I would volunteer if one was available in Naples, Fl
Why the special treatment? There are people out there suffering from the same mental illness and trauma. Why are those people being put into a system that doesn't rehabilitate and make them worse when they get out? If this gets extended to all prisoners I will agree, however if this is just a veteran program even after proven success then America still has a long way to go.
The veterans have a large amount of people mostly veterans themselves who are willing to be unpaid volunteers to make the program possible. Why don’t people that experienced trauma that didn’t join the military want to help people like themselves for free in large enough numbers to have free programs?
Andrew Huckstable: we spend twice as much on veteran benefits than we do education in our national budget.
I wonder what happened to him. I really hope he is well and successful.
This place seems better than actually being in the military
Imagine you sitting down someone goes up to you and whispers
“Do you have a shave chit”but sarge
AHHHHHH!!!!!! WHY IS THIS NOT A THING!
Patricia Alteme it is lol
As a veteran I like this.
Are they doing this for female vets as well? I'm just curious to see if they are also being offered this. My husband, fatherinlaw, and gandfathers served and I think this is a great idea.
Karen Nelson, sadly, I think this will be a thing in the near future.
This is good
How about helping members of our military before they get to a point in life that lands them in prison....I'm all for this program dont get me wrong but I believe we shkild be doing more before it gets to this point
People do not understand that’s the way it should be for our vets. That they come home and sometimes are lost. We use these people, and they need this to get back on track with their own fellow military people.
Person's rocking hella proper star neck tatts, I'd like to got to know this dude. He's hella proper respect mannerisms etc. Hope he fits what he needs.
customized prison, there is so many prison now it is diversifying to create value.
This is so heart breaking for me to see our Nations hero’s behind bars.....sucks man
Wow. My town is in the news
Mr Brown was a fellow sky soldier!! Airborne!!
People in these comments are truly under educated about prison systems and recidivism
My brother guarded poppy fields, he was ordered to and when he was asked he was told this is there way of life. He's all fucked up from bad stuff he's seen too.
Federal Prisons need to also be setup for this type of program.
I like how VICE colour grade it's video.
I thought it said Experimental Jail for VEGETARIANS. I clicked, I was wrong.
This should be the standard across the country.
Why does the government wait until they go to jail to help them?!!
Totally support the idea, if only they'd so the same for civilians
They’ve been doing this in Omaha, Ne for a while now
I got arrested twice for trying to assault someone. The VA finally decided to do something after the fact.
This is how all jails, military AND civilian should be. Before you judge someone, just remember, you don't know their life story.
this a great
sounds like Henry from goodfellas
This is amazing, but why don’t they offer this to everyone? It’s not like other inmates don’t need this kind of rehabilitation..
Amorphous Photo this is the part that explain why only for vets 3:53 or people made a more willing choice. This vets are more easey to help
I love the idea of this and I think we can do a lot of good, but how many prison inmates do you know style their hair with product? I think something's fishy about this because the inmate he's talking to you at the end has products in his hair they do not allow in prison
It's almost like reform instead of punishment actually works
I really hope they take into consideration what that professor said and really make this work our veterans put their lives at risk to keep us free. Had to watch their friends give up their lives so they and us could be free. Had to serve and be a part of some missions that were probably very traumatic and none of us civilians could have handled. And then when they get back not only do we forget about them but worse yet the US government isn't there for them could you imagine risking all of that. Losing friends limbs. Your sanity to keep a country safe and then turn around and get ignored once you're home. No help for the mental stress you now carry and the potential for little things like loud noises to fling you straight back into the middle of a war (in your head).
Just think about it. Of everyone could spare like $100 (obviously if you can't do that and that's understandable rn. You can donate whatever money or just your time build houses work at soup kitchens. There is a lot go look.
This isn't new at all. A veteran's mod has been doing this in the San Diego vista detention facility for over 15 years.
I'm thinking if it would work putting the same thing in practice for other groups like young offenders, I think that's too broad. Military is experiencing specific trauma and that is why it could work, but grouping based on age might not be enough...
It's not a surprising situation when the state of MA treats veterans like criminals. Ma is a police state that never forgives and will hold an arrest that ended in a dismissal 20 years prior against you in court. Since in MA in police logs they see all arrests without a date and without whether it was a conviction or not. I've seen Vets whom got in trouble as a kid, went in the service, served 20 years honorable with multiple combat tours, be treated like a habitual offender by police and court due to a criminal history 30 years prior. Yet, what do you expect from a police force whom wears a uniform the Nazis based their uniform off of.
At least I know if I ever get a bid on a misdemeanor (lol), they have a veteran's unit in my county's HOC.
So its the barracks?