As she graduated from Lake County’s Veterans Treatment Court Wednesday, Kimberly Downing called it a great feeling.
“I’m very grateful for the program and the opportunity that it gives veterans to right our wrongs and to get a clean state,” said Downing, an Army veteran and Chicago resident. “Everyone that was working in the program is amazing — very supportive and nonjudgmental.
Downing was one of 25 graduates of the program, overseen by Lake County Superior Court Judge Julie Cantrell. Over the course of between 18 and 24 months, the treatment program aims to provide alternative sentencing to offenders who are veterans.
The Lake County Veteran Treatment Court has been in service for 11 years, Cantrell said, and this was its 22nd graduation. The last graduation was in November, according to Post-Tribune archives.
Cantrell said the program has 85 participants and 85 mentors.
“It is a program of care and treatment,” she added. “It is a program of compassion, a program of sanctions and rewards, and a program of destiny. It really helps our veterans make a better version of themselves. … It is the best thing I’ve done in 30 years as a judge.”
Program participants are paired with a mentor to achieve their goals. Downing was paired with Adriene Ford, an Air Force veteran and Gary resident.
Although Ford wasn’t previously in the program, she’s worked for more than 20 years in criminal probation, and she now works in LaPorte County. Ford said Downing was easy to mentor.
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“When she found out about the program, she jumped on board,” Ford said. “She was grateful that there was a program that existed like this, so doing the program was so easy, and it was just something that she was grateful for, and it benefitted her in the long run.”
Downing said her relationship with Ford was crucial to her success. She’s also thankful that the program helped her get back on track, she added.
“With Adriene’s support and our communication with one another, I think that made it easier,” Downing said. “This presented a great opportunity, and it was really a no-brainer to do the right thing and complete it successfully.”
Downing has about eight children at home, Cantrell said, but that didn’t stop her from succeeding in treatment court. Program participants loved hearing stories about the children, she added.
“They do amazing work with the kids,” Cantrell said. “Keep them all in school, keep them doing great things, while working jobs, while doing everything she’s supposed to be doing to maintain sobriety. … I couldn’t be more proud of you, and I know you’re going to do well.”
Lake County Superior Court Judge Salvador Vasquez was Wednesday’s keynote speaker. He encouraged graduates to continue down the same positive path after graduation. Although Vasquez, Cantrell and program employees can’t relate to what graduates have been through, he said they observe and learn along the way.
Vasquez also said they understand program participants are trying hard and are working towards a better life for themselves and their loved ones. He encourages graduates, even after the program, to find people that will help them continue down that path.
“If you hang around people who have your best interests in mind — people who care about you, people who care about your family, people who care about your future — that’s going to you, as well,” Vasquez said. “If you hang around people that want to be role models to their children, that will be you.”