Nine veterans to graduate from county treatment program

Army veteran Kenneth Dowell, graduate of Veterans Treatment Court, and District Judge Kelley Kostin. Aileen Wingblad — Digital First Media

By Natalie Broda, nbroda@digitalfirstmedia.com,, @NatalieBroda on Twitter

Army veteran Arthur Newsom embraces 51st District Court Chief Probation Officer Angie Reid at a recent VTC graduation. Aileen Wingblad — Digital First Media

Nine veterans will be honored today at the 51st District Court in Waterford as they graduate from the North Oakland County Veterans Treatment Court.

The program acts as an alternative to jail time offered to military veterans, having graduated 34 veterans over five ceremonies since its inception in 2013. The average duration of the treatment program is about 18 months, but some may complete the program in one-year, or two-years.

The Veterans Treatment Court focuses on helping to stabilize nonviolent offenders with underlying medical and social issues.