Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger, who is seeking a third term in office, is implementing new programs this year.

Goldinger, 45, of Penn Township said he already instituted a new protocol for handling reports of horse abuse or neglect.

The Republican incumbent said problems between horse owners and a horse rescue group prompted the change.

“It’s one of the first in the state,” Goldinger said.

However, he declined to divulge the details of the protocols for law enforcement.

Goldinger also wants to form an elderly abuse task force.

He said older residents not only suffer from physical abuse, but also in other areas such as being taken advantage of financially.

Goldinger also plans to heighten supervision of repeat drunken driving offenders.

He said if a defendant is cited for a new DUI, that person should undergo electronic monitoring — even if the prior case is only pending.

“Hopefully, we’ll stop the drinking,” Goldinger said.

He said just relying on the penalty system is not enough.

“They don’t learn their lesson,” Goldinger said about repeat offenders.

He said the main goal is preventing people from being injured in DUI-related wrecks.

During Goldinger’s tenure, various programs were begun.

Working with county court, two specialty courts were created — veterans and drug — to divert people from jail, so their root problems could be addressed.

The county is seeking funding for a third specialty court: mental health court.

Goldinger said if defendants’ issues, such as addiction or mental health problems, are not treated, those people will continue committing crimes.

“Throwing people in jail is not solving the problem,” he said.

Placing prescription drug drop-off boxes across the county addresses another concern. Goldinger said 1,340 pounds of drugs were collected in 2014.

He worked with Joyce Ainsworth, county human services director, to develop the Child Advocacy center to improve how child abuse claims are handled.

The center consolidates what used to be separate process into one in an effort to reduce the trauma for victims of alleged abuse. “That’s certainly going to be helpful for children in Butler County,” Goldinger said.

He lives in Penn Township with his wife and daughter. As of this morning, Goldinger has no challengers — Republican or Democrat — to his four-year seat.