Sheriff’s Office and Hyannis center team up to help veterans

Sheriff James Cummings

Sheriff James Cummings

BOURNE – In the spirit of a commitment he’s made and kept since assuming office, Barnstable County Sheriff Jim Cummings last week signed an agreement that will help eligible members of his jail population get the multiple services of the Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center, “both during incarceration and throughout their transition into the community.”

The two-party memorandum of understanding was also signed by the Sheriff’s counterpart at the veterans’ center, Executive Director Greg Quilty. Both men have agreed to strengthen the nexus between the services offered and the Barnstable County Correctional Facility (BCCF) inmates who need them.

Specifically, the Sheriff pledges BCCF:

√ To inform incoming offenders of the services provided by the outreach center as part of the inmate orientation process and to use posters to promote Cape and Island services.

√ To instruct inmates to notify the facility’s human service staff if they would like to avail themselves of the center’s offerings.

√ To work with the center to find a mechanism that evaluates how well the changes work.

For his part, Director Quilty pledges his Cape and Islands Center:

√ To contact inmate family members in cases where the offender has self-identified as a veteran, an avenue available to all inmates at initial booking; and to enhance information sharing by having his staff join BCSO employees as part of the inmate orientation process.

√ To assist inmates in determining eligibility for its programs and to help enroll them once a favorable determination has been made; to provide case management for any inmate/veteran being served; and to work with the re-entry social service agencies already assisting BCCF inmates.

Sheriff Cummings, a US Navy veteran, is a long and steadfast supporter of veterans and veteran causes. Examples abound. A group called Employee Support of the Guard and Reserve has recognized him for a willingness to hire veterans. He has been publicly cited by numerous other military and veteran support groups, among them the Marine Corps League, the Department of the Army, the civilian advisory council at Joint Base Cape Cod, and Cape Cod Cares for the Troops.
Media release furnished by Barnstable Sheriff’s Office

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