Specialty Courts

Specialty Courts, also known as Problem Solving Courts, seek to help criminal defendants suffering from underlying mental health, social or substance abuse problems from becoming repeat offenders. Specialty Courts achieve this goal by providing treatment and intensive supervision. Specialty Courts seek to address the primary issues that contributed to the participant's involvement in the judicial system, with public safety being of paramount importance. 

Types of Specialty Courts

Butler County currently employs 3 Specialty Courts.

Behavioral Health Treatment Court

Butler County Behavioral Health Court (BHC) was established in 2015 to address the growing number of individuals diagnosed with a mental health disorder who are involved in the criminal justice system.

Drug Treatment Court

Butler County Drug Treatment Court was established in 2011 and designed for those individuals with a substance abuse problem which has led to their repeated, non‐violent criminal behavior.

Veterans' Treatment Court

Butler County Veterans Treatment Court was established in 2012 to address the growing number of veterans involved in the criminal justice system.

Organizations

Specialty Courts coordinate efforts between members of the Court system and organizations outside of the Court in order to guarantee that participants receive sufficient counseling and/or treatment. Team members from the Court system include prosecutors, public defenders, probation officers, and other justice system affiliates. 

Team members from organizations outside of the Court system include substance abuse and mental health treatment professionals, community partners, and Veterans Affairs representatives. A judge assigned to each specific Specialty Court leads these teams.

Positive Affects

Specialty Courts have positively affected the lives of participants and people directly and indirectly connected to them. Among these positive affects is the significant reduction of incarceration costs and recidivism rates of Specialty Court participants.