COEUR d’ALENE — The mood in a courtroom is rarely celebratory, but when Joshua Lowery addressed the packed benches and full jury box Tuesday, he had occasion to smile.

“I’ve been sober for two years now,” he said, looking out at a sea of faces, including those of his wife and daughter. “It’s probably the best thing I could’ve done for myself. I would’ve never admitted that to myself before.” 

Lowery enlisted in the Utah Army National Guard in 2002 and went on to serve overseas. When he retired in 2023, he lost something: a sense of purpose and identity that had guided him for more than two decades. 

The situation came to a head in September 2023, when county prosecutors charged Lowery with four counts of disturbing the peace, all misdemeanors. 

Veterans Treatment Court offered Lowery a chance to change course. Launched last year, the program is for veterans with a drug or alcohol dependency or a mental health or trauma-related condition. 

A year after entering the program, Lowery is one of its first three graduates. 

“We got lost,” he said during Tuesday’s graduation ceremony. “We stumbled. This court gave us the opportunity to regain that footing and realize our service didn’t have to be over.” 

Idaho has 69 treatment courts in 38 counties. Specialized treatment courts reduce crime by lowering re-arrest conviction rates, improving substance abuse treatment outcomes, reuniting families and producing measurable cost benefits, according to the Idaho Supreme Court. 

“You can’t incarcerate society out of a problem,” said First District Judge Tristan Poorman, who administers Veterans Treatment Court. “(Specialty courts) give people tools to help them with whatever issues they have in a community setting.” 

Veterans Treatment Court differs from Kootenai County’s other specialty courts in that it is tailored to support participants who have experienced trauma. The program’s treatment providers and staff are veterans, as are the mentors who are matched with participants. 

“It’s easier to talk to a veteran about what you’ve experienced,” said program coordinator Buddy Winters. 

Winters is a Navy veteran who went on to work in law enforcement. He recalled responding to calls for service involving Vietnam veterans accused of driving under the influence, battery and drug-related offenses. 

“They were in their 60s and they were still dealing with the trauma of Vietnam,” he said. 

Winters said those experiences showed him that it’s crucial for veterans to receive appropriate support after leaving the military. 

Upon entering the program, participants work with staff to develop an outpatient treatment plan. Each participant’s program is unique, depending on individual needs, but all must attend regular court hearings and undergo counseling and drug and alcohol testing. 

Lowery said treatment court hearings are unlike any other courtroom setting. 

“It’s not to condemn the veterans for what they did,” he said. “It’s to bring them back to a state of grace and return them to honor through accountability.” 

At these hearings, participants stand before the judge and share their successes, as well as the challenges they’ve faced and the places where they’ve stumbled. 

Poorman said participants are encouraged to be honest about their struggles so the program can provide appropriate support and hold them accountable. That’s why they’re paired with a mentor who can be a confidante, Poorman said, “especially early on, when they feel like they don’t have anyone.” 

Winters said the program builds a familiar sense of camaraderie among the participants and the treatment staff. 

“You hear that theme over and over again,” Winters said. “‘I’m not alone. I have a community of support. I have fellow veterans who understand what I’m going through.’” 

Lowery said Veterans Treatment Court helped him understand how important service is to his life. He began volunteering with the Harrison Community Ambulance Association, first as a driver and soon as a registered EMT. 

He said getting to know the people he and his fellow volunteers serve has given him a sense of purpose and belonging. 

“We need the people we serve just as much as they need us,” he said. “I had to come to realize that.” 

The program has also helped him grow in self-awareness and recognize that it takes courage to open up to others and be vulnerable. 

“It’s OK to talk to people about issues you’re having in your life and to rely on other people,” he said. “To rely on them does not make you weak. It does not make you compromised. To learn to do so is actually a strength.” 

Lowery said he plans to stay on with Veterans Treatment Court as a mentor. 

“It’s not about changing who you are,” he said of the program. “It’s about returning you to the person you were when you served your country. That’s why I think this court’s got a really bright future.” 

For many participants, Poorman said, Veterans Treatment Court is the first time since their military service that they’ve been able to “really believe in themselves.” 

He said the program is designed to recognize the sacrifices local veterans have made and give them the tools to break the unhealthy cycles they’re repeating. It’s a small way of giving back to a population that has given so much. 

“We can never fully repay or thank them for the years they have given this country,” Poorman said. “But we can try.” 

Veterans interested in volunteering as mentors with the program can contact Buddy Winters by emailing [email protected] or by calling 208-446-1099.

    First District Judge Tristan Poorman administers Veterans Treatment Court in Kootenai County.