Philadelphia’s Veterans Court, established in March of this year, is up and running every Wednesday at the Criminal Justice Center. Similar to other diversionary and specialty courts, such as drug abuse or mental health court, the program is designed to accelerate the legal process, provide necessary assistance to offenders, and avoid jail time.
Veterans make up a tenth of the jail population, with most offenders incarcerated for non-violent crimes. A majority is involved with drug and/or alcohol abuse and is in need of treatment. Veterans may also have a higher risk of becoming homeless. An estimated one third of the male street population is believed to have served in the military.
Problem solving courts have become more prevalent in recent years, with many in the legal system lauding their benefits. Says Assistant Public Defender Charles Cunningham, “We certainly think people who have served our country are entitled to some special consideration. Sometimes the reason they're in this position is because of service to this country.”
Read the Philadelphia Inquirer article on Veterans Court here.
The court system’s explanation on the role and purpose of problem-solving courts is available here.
A list of problem-solving courts currently operating in Pennsylvania is available here.
