State Rep. Tim Bonner, R-17th, will serve as chairman of the Veterans Court Study Committee for the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing.

The committee’s purpose is analyzing the needs of Pennsylvania courts to address veterans who have committed criminal acts.

The Veterans Court Study Committee comprises three legislators, one judge, two lawyers and representatives from the United States and Pennsylvania Departments of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Corrections and a Veterans Court administrator.

“Our veterans faced daily risks and sacrifices in service to our country to protect our freedom. It is essential for our justice system to carefully and humanely reflect the impact of military service throughout the judicial process,” Bonner said in a news release.

Pennsylvania is home to around 800,000 veterans, according to the release. There are 26 counties, including Butler, that have a veterans court, though there are no state guidelines that establish or recognize their authority.

The committee will analyze problems facing veterans, make recommendations for treatment and punishment and suggest parameters for counties to establish veterans courts. A report will be given to the Pennsylvania General Assembly for further consideration and action.

The Butler County Veterans Treatment Court was started in 2012 to address a growing number of veterans involved in the criminal justice system, the website states. The court promotes sobriety, recovery and stability through a coordinated response involving county judges, the district attorney, public defender, adult probation, the mental health program, domestic relations, county veterans affairs and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.