Governor Pat McCrory attends first Veterans Treatment Court graduation in Harnett County
LILLINGTON, N.C. (WTVD) -- The state's first and, for now anyway, only Veterans Treatment Court celebrated its first anniversary Wednesday with its first graduation.
Veterans Treatment Courts are relatively new. They divert vets from the traditional criminal justice system and link them with the programs, benefits, and services they have earned; they provide referrals for treatment, education and vocational programs, and community resources while being monitored by the courts.
"We want to give our veterans a second chance," Gov. Pat McCrory told the crowd at the graduation. "Help them when they come back home, even if they get in trouble, because they are dealing with issues we can't imagine."
McCrory and other state dignitaries were there to congratulate six veterans who graduated Wednesday. One of those veterans, Staff Sgt. Tommy Rieman, is a Purple Heart recipient who was never awarded his medal because he was charged with a crime. He says after he returned from combat, he started abusing alcohol and eventually tried to commit suicide. He credits the Veterans Treatment Court with saving his life. He's once again eligible to receive his Purple Heart.
"Everybody is here for one specific reason," Rieman told a crowd of mentors, supporters and fellow veterans, "and that's because they believe in that second chance for every veteran. I was given that second chance. I was very fortunate."
The Lillington Veterans Service Court was started one year ago. It remains the only such program in the state - but not for long. Thursday, a similar court will open in Fayetteville, and organizers say there are plans to open 15 more statewide.
