There are currently at least 112 veterans behind bars at the Bexar County jail, according to data made available because of a new state law that went into effect last week.

Under Senate Bill 2938, every time someone goes into a Texas county jail, sheriffs must verify whether that person also served in the military. Before the law, the verification process in jail for veterans was inconsistent.

Supporters argue the law will help incarcerated veterans get on the right track once they’re released from jail.

“There are a lot of vets... (that are) so lost, that they don’t know how to get back,” veteran Morris Austin said.

Austin, 66, was released from the Bexar County jail about one month ago. He told KSAT he was incarcerated on a drug charge.

Now that Austin is out, he wants to stay out a

See Full Page