News

PA Court System Puts Focus on Helping Veterans

News Article

November 07, 2013

Want to help former servicemen and servicewomen who come into contact with the criminal justice system?

Pennsylvania’s judiciary needs you.

The state court system is seeking those who have served in the military to act as mentors in support of the expanding number of veterans courts across the Commonwealth.

Mentors help walk first-time offenders through the process of treatment, the veterans court and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs system. They do not take on the role of attorneys or treatment providers.

Judges assign mentors to provide support and guidance to veterans caught up in the court system who are struggling with drug/alcohol, mental health and other difficulties. Those eligible for the program follow a supervised treatment plan as an alternative to serving jail time.

Pennsylvania has 16 veterans courts in operation.

To become a volunteer mentor, submit an application to the office of the court administrator in the county where you would like to volunteer. A list of district court administrators is available on our website along with an application form.

An online mentor training program — believed to be the first of its kind in the nation — was launched to enhance access and increase the number of people wanting to become trained as mentors. Developed by the AOPC, the program is being hosted and managed at no cost to the state court system by Robert Morris University.

To fill out an application and find out where to apply please visit the volunteer veteran mentor training program web page.