A Process and Outcome Evaluation of a
Veterans Treatment Court Program in
Western Pennsylvania

ELIZABETH KUHN
DR. SARAH KUEHN
DR. REBECCA RIDENER

Butler County Veterans
Treatment Court

Mission and Goals
“To promote public safety and reduce recidivism in a cost-effective way by providing veteran
offenders with intensive court supervision and a comprehensive, Veterans Administration driven
treatment program. ”
Goals:
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Improve public safety
Reduce criminal recidivism
Improve quality of Veterans’ lives
Connect Veterans with Pre-existing services
Reduce costs

Admission Process
Referral:
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Can come from several sources
Given to ADA and VJO
Intake/Assessment, Treatment Plan
Vote to Approve/Disapprove Application
Court Session: Client is informed about practices
Defendant appears before VTC, enters plea
Assigned mentor

Eligibility Criteria:

◦ Current or former member in good standing of any
branch of the military (need Form DD214)
◦ Resident of Butler Co and 18+
◦ Committed any offense (except homicide or certain
sex offenses)
◦ Have a clinical diagnosis

Exclusionary Criteria:

◦ Certain offenses automatically denied (e.g., rape,
murder, and manslaughter)
◦ Too serious medical or mental health issue
◦ Unresolved out-of-state or county charges
◦ Inability to provide form DD214

Treatment Program
Four Phases

◦ Minimum of 3 months
◦ Characteristics across phases:
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Individualized treatment plans
Meetings with PO; Veteran’s Mentor
Active participation in medical treatment plan; following treatment recommendations
Attending AA/NA meetings; treatment court sessions
Complete community service requirements
Compliance: drug/alcohol testing

Veterans Court: Participants

Process Evaluation: 10 Key Points

Collaboration
◦ Recognition of team members’
roles/approaches
◦ But a preference for team members
“staying in own lane”

◦ Communication as a solution
◦ Training

Impact: COVID-19

Future Research
Outcome Evaluation:

◦ Compare treatment court participants vs. offenders processed through the traditional criminal justice
system

Questions?
Feedback?

sarah.kuehn@sru.edu
rebecca.ridener@sru.edu