Former soldier is 'different person' after Veterans Treatment Court

Veterans Treatment Court, a Cumberland County program that helps veterans avoid jail time and rebuild their lives, celebrated its first graduate Tuesday night. For the men and women who serve and fall on hard times, the program serves as a second chance.

It was just a few short steps for Afghanistan veteran Garrett Vann to approach the podium, but the moment was a year in the making.

“It has turned things from not really sure what’s going on in my future to now I have plans and I’ve started to achieve goals,” he said.

One year ago, Vann was homeless, struggling with substance abuse, and estranged from his family.

“We didn’t have a good relationship around a year ago, really didn’t talk and that was due to what I was doing and now I’m a different person,” he said.

“As a judge, I sit there and make rulings and I apply the law equally, but in rehabilitation, you have to be compassionate and understanding,” Olivera said.

The program admits veterans who suffer from a number of problems post-military service, including problems that often land them in jail.

Olivera said Vann’s graduation is proof that the program works.

“He has a job at the VA, he’s working on trying to get home. He has a car, he talks to his parents over the weekends, he’s clean for over a year,” Olivera said of Vann.

Olivera said understanding the impact of combat trauma is part of the success of the program, which began in November after receiving a $70,000 grant from the Governor’s Crime Commission.