Tony Miller had a tough time when he returned to the Twin Cities from his second military tour in Iraq. Civilian life lacked the danger-induced adrenalin rush that he experienced in combat. He drifted into the life of a drug dealer, flirting with danger on a daily basis. But in 2015 he was arrested and found himself facing a potential lengthy prison sentence. Instead, he opted to enter a fledgling veterans' court program that offered him a way to avoid prison if he was willing to meet certain conditions, including admitting his guilt and staying drug- and alcohol-free. Today, he's one of more than 100 Minnesota veterans who have made the most of this second chance. — Jeff Strickler

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