10th Judicial District’s Veterans Treatment Court Marks Over a Decade of Service

June 10, 2026, PUEBLO, Colo. –  The Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) in the 10th Judicial District celebrated the graduation of its 85th graduate, a milestone reflecting more than a decade of collaboration and commitment since the program’s pilot launch in 2014.

Located in the Home of Heroes—the official nickname of the City of Pueblo, honoring its remarkable history of residents who have received the Congressional Medal of Honor – the mission of the 10th Judicial District’s VTC is to show appreciation for the service of justice involved veterans and to protect public safety by coordinating services and providing a judicially supervised treatment regimen, thereby improving the quality of life for participants, their families, and the community.

The VTC is a specialized, problem-solving court designed to support justice-involved veterans facing challenges such as substance use disorders, mental health concerns, or trauma. By blending structured judicial guidance with treatment services, accountability measures, and veteran-to-veteran mentorship, the program addresses the underlying factors contributing to participants’ legal issues while prioritizing community safety. Centered on rehabilitation and personal responsibility, VTC recognizes the unique experiences veterans carry from their service and offers a path toward stability, improved health, reduced recidivism, and the opportunity to avoid incarceration upon successful completion.

“VTC didn’t just help me; it saved my life. After leaving the military in 2007, I struggled with homelessness, addiction, and long stretches of incarceration, even to the point of losing my sense of purpose. I felt like I had gone from serving my country to having no direction at all for the better part of 15 years. When I was introduced to VTC in January 2021, it was the first time someone held me accountable while still believing in me. It took me a few months to adjust, but that combination changed everything. The structure, mentorship, and support pushed me to face my choices and start rebuilding, one step at a time,” said a VTC graduate, who recently graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in construction management.

Participants work with a collaborative team that includes the presiding judge, the district attorney and public defender offices, probation, the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, treatment professionals, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and a dedicated group of volunteer veteran mentors. Through consistent court reviews, engagement in treatment, and peer support, participants are expected to meet program requirements while receiving the resources needed to move forward.

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