Monterey County jail officials say they plan to create a special section just for military veterans. The unit, scheduled to open next July, would separate vets from the general jail population in hope of helping them find a productive civilian life after they are released.
The jail currently houses about two-dozen veterans, many arrested on drug-related charges or suffering from other military-related conditions. Jail officials say the veterans will be given rehabilitation opportunities as part of the new housing program. The unit is modeled after a similar program at a Massachusetts jail.
