Court to assist veterans opens in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Court officials in Pittsburgh have marked Veterans Day by establishing an Allegheny County Common Pleas Court to help veterans facing nonviolent offenses.

The veterans court held by Judge John Zottola is aimed at keeping veterans out of jail and instead getting them treatment, especially for combat-related issues that contribute to their legal problems.

On Tuesday, three veterans facing drunken driving charges appeared before Zottola. They were placed in a supervised counseling program with mentors and must report back to the judge in December. If they comply with a treatment program, their charges could be dismissed; if not, they could face the normal penalty for their crimes.

The court is one of several the Department of Veterans Affairs has helped establish in the country.